BANCROFT    LIBRARY 


THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 


NARROW     ESCAPE     FROM     MASSACRE     BY     THE     INDIANS     OF 

SPIRIT    LAKE,    WHEN     PRESIDING    ELDER    OF 

SIOUX    CITY    DISTRICT. 


Rocky  Mountain  History  and  Tornado  Experiences. 


REMARKABLE  AND  AMUSING  INCIDENTS, 


EMBRACING    FORTY    YEARS   IN   THE    MINISTRY:    INCLUDING    FOUR    YEARS   IN 

SOUTHERN  OHIO,  THIRTY  YKAKS  IN  THE  TERRITORY  AND  STATE  OF 

IO\VA,  AND  ONE  YEAR  IN  VINELAND,  X.  J.,  IN  1863. 


BY 


REV.    LANDON    TAYLOR, 

// 

Member  of  the  Upper  Iowa  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Motto:    No  enterprise  «-ait  fail  with  Cwod  to  Itarlt  it. 


CHICAGO: 

P  U  B  L  I  S  H  E  D    F  O  R    THE    AUTHOR. 
1881. 


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LAXDON  TAYLOR, 

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R     R     McCABE   &   CO.,  JUNGBLDT.   HENRICKS  &  CO  . 

FFUNTKR8  KI  ECTROTYrEKS 

ul  WASBINOTON  Sr.  151  Sc  15(3  SOCTH  CJ.ABK  ST. 


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ACADEMY  OF    I 

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HISTORY 


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AND    ALL   INTERESTED    IX    TRUTHFUL    HISTORY, 

AS    WELL    AS    THE    HAPPINESS   OF   THE    HUMAN    RACE, 


HUT    ESPECIALLY 
THE   AUTHOR   SENDS   WARM    GREETINGS 

TO    THE    MINISTERS    AND    DEVOTED   MEMBERS 


EMBRACING    THOSE    FIELDS    OF    MINISTERIAL    LABOR    WHERE    HE    MINISTERED 
TO   THOUSANDS   THE   GRACE  OF    LIFE. 


PREFACE. 


I  have  been  for  some  time  impressed  that  it  was  my  duty 
to  write  out  a  history  of  my  life  and  labors,  of  my  trials 
and  successes,  and  the  great  goodness  of  my  Divine  Master 
toward  me  through  all  of  my  history;  but  more  especially 
through  the  many  years  in  which  I  was  devoted  to  the 
Christian  ministry.  But  the  duty  never  became  a  reality 
until  the  anniversary  of  my  birthday,  when  I  had  reached 
sixty-eight  years.  On  that  day  it  was  so  forcibly  impressed 
upon  my  mind,  that  not  a  doubt  remained  as  to  its  being  a 
present  duty;  when  I  left  my  room  of  devotion  and  entered 
upon  my  work.  This  occurred  on  the  6th  day  of  December 
last;  and  from  that  time  to  this  I  have  been  engaged  nearly 
every  day  (Sundays  excepted)  in  writing  out  the  present 
volume.  It  may  interest  my  readers  to  know  that  the  work 
of  a  lifetime  is  all  written  from  memory*  Not  a  scrap  of 
memoranda  have  I  had  to  assist  me  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end,  and  yet  T  have  not  wanted  for  names,  dates,  or 
even  the  language  itself.  Never  before  this  had  I  fullv 
appreciated  the  language  of  our  Saviour  in  relation  to  the 
office  of  the  Holy  Spirit:  "He  shall  teach  you  all  things, 
and  bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,"  etc.  And  I 
here  record  my  gratitude  to  God  for  assistance  so  timely  in 
this  the  day  of  my  necessity,  and  for  health  and  strength  of 
body  to  enable  me  to  complete  mv  work.  My  Christian 
friends  who  read  the  facts  and  incidents  contained  in  this 
history,  may  feel  assured  that  they  are  not  collected  from 


VI  P  R  E  F  A  V  E  . 

doubtful  sources,  but  such  as  occurred  under  my  own  eye; 
nnd  the  few  received  from  others  I  can  vouch  for,  without 
nny  hesitation.  As  I  propose  to  devote  all  the  profits 
arising  from  the  sale  of  this  book  to  purposes  of  benevo- 
lence, I  come  to  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  in  the 
laity  and  ask  for  large  patronage,  assuring  them  that  its 
circulation  among  our  people  will  produce  a  saving  and 
salutary  effect.  With  a  view  to  interest  and  benefit  the 
young,  I  have  devoted  one  chapter  of  about  ten  pages  to 
children  and  youth,  which  will  be  found  of  no  less  interest, 
even  to  adults,  than  the  other  history,  and  will  give  it  a  very 
valuable  place  in  our  libraries  for  the  Sunday-school.  For 
the  title  to  my  book  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Rev.  Maxwell 
P.  Gaddis,  of  the  Cincinnati  conference,  who  is  the  author 
of  the  "Footprints  of  an  Itinerant,"  and  other  valuable 
works.  I  have  attempted  to  give  sketches  of  Christian 
ministers,  only  those  with  whom  I  have  been  intimately 
associated  in  labor;  many  in  my  own  conference  are 
equally  worthy,  but  for  want  of  personal  acquaintance, 
they  are  not  included;  and  owing  to  the  number,  could 
hardly  be  embraced  in  a  work  of  this  kind.  As  this  is  the 
first  contribution  of  the  kind  west  of  the  Mississippi,  I 
trust  that  it  may  be  the  precursor  to  a  more  extended  work, 
and  that  in  the  great  day,  when  the  results  of  this  life  shall 
be  fully  made  up,  this  volume  may  share  a  part  in  the 
good  accomplished. 

LANDON  TAYLOR. 

BENTON  HARBOR,  Mich.,  April  27,  1881. 


INTRODUCTION. 


"Though  ye  have  ten  thousand  instructors  in  Christ,  yet 
have  ye  not  many  fathers,  for  in  Christ  Jesus  I  have  begot- 
ten you  through  the  gospel."  So  wrote  Paul  to  the  Corin- 
thians, and  so  might  write  to  thousands  now  living  the 
venerable  man  whose  long  and  successful  ministry  is  de- 
scribed in  the  following  pages.  Among  the  great  cloud  of 
witnesses  to  the  fidelity  of  that  ministry  I  claim  a  place. 
More  than  thirty  years  ago,  convicted  of  the  Spirit  in  an- 
swer to  his  prayers,  moved  by  his  earnest  appeals,  and 
charmed  by  his  triumphant  faith  in  Christ,  I  rose,  cast  in 
my  lot  with  the  people  of  God,  and  soon  found  myself  a 
fellow-citizen  with  the  saints  and  of  the  household  of  God 
sitting  with  the  writer  of  this  book  and  with  many  others 
in  an  heavenly  place  in  Christ  Jesus.  This  book  is  a  loving 
epistle  from  Brother  Taylor  to  his  spiritual  children  scat- 
tered over  the  Great  West,  and  to  all  those  among  whom  he 
has  gone  preaching  the  kingdom  of  Jesus.  Yet  not  to 
these  only,  but  unto  all  the  faithful  everywhere  this  book 
will  be  a  blessing.  The  title  is  thoroughly  scriptural. 
Christ  himself  said  "  I  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a 
sword."  Paul  constantly  used  martial  imagery  in  illus- 
trating the  intensity  of  the  conflict  in  which  the  soldiers  of 
Christ  are  engaged.  He  spoke  of  the  shield  of  faith,  the 
helmet  of  salvation,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit;  and  at  the  close 
of  life,  from  the  Mamertine  prison  he  sent  forth  a  shout  of 
victory  which  is  to  ring  through  all  the  ages:  "  I  have  fought 
a  good  fight,  I  have  kept  the  faith."  What  conflict  more 
sublime  than  this!  The  faithful  minister  of  Christ  is  the 


Vlll  I  X  T  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N  . 

panoplied  champion  of  everv  right  and  the  hereditary  foe 
of  every  wrong.  u  He  wrestles  not  against  flesh  and  blood, 
but  against  principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers 
of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness 
in  high  places."  What  occupation  more  befitting  a  veteran 
soldier  than  to  pitch  his  tent  on  the  margin  of  the  river  he 
is  so  soon  to  cross  and  send  memory  backward  over  the 
past  that  ha  may  tell  how  the  battle  was  fought  and  the 
victory  won!  to  linger  fondly  over  many  a  scene  of  re- 
joicing when  the  powers  of  darkness  were  baffled  and  souls 
were  won  to  God  and  new  joys  were  kindled  among  the 
angels  about  the  throne!  David  the  shepherd  king  of  Is- 
rael rejoiced  when  he  rescued  a  lamb  of  his  flock  from  the 
power  of  the  lion.  God  has  put  upon  many  of  his  ministers 
the  great  honor  of  rescuing  thousands  of  immortal  souls 
from  the  hand  of  the  destroyer.  Where  is  there  a  pleasure 
so  rich — so  heavenly,  as  to  look  upon  them  in  after  life,  and 
remember  what  they  might  have  been  if  the  decision  had 
not  been  made  for  Christ  and  heaven!  The  greatest  of  all 
itinerants  said  of  his  spiritual  children,  "  For  what  is  our 
hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  Are  not  even  ye  in  the 
presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming?  for  ye  are 
our  glory  and  joy."  Dealing  as  they  do  with  individual 
souls,  faithful  ministers  are  the  real  builders  of  the  nation. 
God  has  commissioned  them  to  sow  the  seed  of  the  king- 
dom, to  awaken  the  conscience,  and  to  preserve  in  the 
human  heart  the  memory  of  God — to  remind  men  every- 
where that  the  most  precious  of  all  possessions  is  the  truth. 
Upon  the  success  of  this  work  hinges  the  history  of  the 
world.  Nations  taught  of  God  are  alone  invincible.  Luther 
does  the  work;  Bismarck  gets  the  praise  of  men.  What 
would  have  been  possible  to  the  great  statesman  had  he  not 
been  preceded  by  the  lowly  preacher  of  that  righteousness 
which  exalteth  a  nation!  Statesmen  are  slow  to  see  this. 
Many  of  them  are  quite  unwilling  to  acknowledge  that 
their  work  done  in  the  gaze  of  the  world  is  only  secondary 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

to  the  work  of  that  humble  toiler  concerning  whom  infinite 
wisdom  lias  said:  "He  that  winneth  souls  is  wise." 

An  important  place  has  been  accorded  to  education;  but 
intelligence  without  faith  is  a  delusion  and  a  snare.  It  will 
not  save  the  people  from  the  dry  rot  of  moral  corruption. 
The  gospel  alone  can  do  that.  Lord  Brougham  in  a  speech 
in  reference  to  the  appointment  of  the  duke  of  Wellington 
as  prime  minister  said:  "Field-marshal  the  Duke  of  Wel- 
lington may  take  the  army;  he  may  take  the  navy;  he  may 
take  the  great  seal;  he  may  take  the  mitre — I  make  him  a 
present  of  them  all.  Let  him  come  on  with  his  whole  force, 
sword  in  hand,  against  the  constitution,  and  the  English 
people  will  not  only  beat  him  buck,  but  laugh  at  his 
assaults.  At  other  times  the  country  may  have  heard  with 
dismay  that  the  soldier  was  abroad.  It  will  not  be  so  now. 
Let  the  soldier  be  abroad  if  he  will;  he  can  do  nothing  in 
this  age.  There  is  another  personage  abroad — a  person- 
age less  imposing;  in  the  eyes  of  some,  perhaps  insignifi- 
cant. The  school  master  is  abroad,  and  I  trust  him,  armed 
with  his  primer,  against  the  soldier  in  full  military  array." 

Concerning  England  as  well  as  our  own  republic  the 
facts  would  require  a  change  in  that  statement.  Let  it 
be  written  thus:  "The  preacher  of  righteousness  is  abroad 
in  the  land;  churches  are  being  built;  Sabbath-schools  are 
being  organized;  family  altars  are  being  erected.  These 
are  the  moral  forces  through  which  omnipotent  power 
shapes  the  life  of  the  republic." 

Let  the  reader  of  this  book  pause  a  moment  and  reflect. 
If  the  work  of  this  servant  of  God  and  all  his  fellow-laborers 
could  be  blotted  out,  with  all  the  near  and  remote  conse- 
quences of  their  toil,  what  would  there  be  left  worth  having? 
We  cannot  think  of  such  a  destruction  for  a  moment  without 
dismay.  Then  let  us  honor  them  and  break  upon  their 
heads  the  alabaster  box  most  precious  while  yet  they 
linger  among  us. 

C.  C.  McCABE. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

FAMILY    HISTORY. 

PAGE. 

Parents'  Names — Family  Ages— Removal  to  Elmira,  N.  Y. — Father's  Con- 
version—  United  with  the  Church  —Revival  of  Religion —  Our  own 
Family — My  Grandmother's  Name— Second  Marriage — Went  there  to 
Live —  Chestnut  Gathering  —  Narrow  Escape  from  Death  —  Brother 
James  goes  to  Ohio — Becomes  Skeptical 1 

CHAPTER    II. 

FAMILY    HISTORY    CONTINUED. 

My  Emigration  to  Ohio — A  Little  Home-Sick — Employed  at  a  Furnace — 
School  Teaching— Thrown  Down  River  Bank — Shut  out  of  the  School- 
house,  when  Inside,  ...........  5 

CHAPTER     III. 

A    HAPPY   SURPRISE,    AND   PRODIGAI/S    RETURN. 

My  Brother's  Skepticism— Hard  Question — Father  came  to  Ohio— Prays  for 
his  Son — Receives  a  Witness — Brother  Renounces  Infidelity — Joins 
the  M.  E.  Church,  8 

CHAPTER    IV. 

PERSONAL    HISTORY. 

I  Engage  as  Clerk  in  a  Store — Arrested  in  Card  Playing — Resolve  on  a  Chris- 
tian Life— Appointed  Class  Leader— Marriage — Domestic  Affliction — 
Visit  to  Columbus — Sadness  of  Home — Furnace  Company  Failed — 
Lost  $1200— School  Teaching  Again,  ........  11 

CHAPTER   V. 

REMARKABLE     AWAKENING. 

Spiritual  Manifestation — Home  at  Mr.  Butterfield's — Conversion  of  Mr.  B., 
a  UniversaHst — Revival  Commenced  in  School — My  own  Victory — 
Providence  made  Plain--Mr.  Butterfield's  Happy  Death — Licensed  to 
Preach  in  1842— Rev.  A.  Murphy— Bro.  Chas.  Ferguson— Trial  Ser- 
mon—Parents' Gratitude — Butterfield  Family,  13 


XII  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VT. 

THE   GREAT    REVIVAL,    WITH    ITS    INCIDENTS. 


PAGE. 


Brother  James — His  Infidel  Friends — He  Unites  with  the  Church- 
Wesley  Rowe— Daniel  T.  Wamnght — Brother  Joins  Rock  River  Con 
ference — Agent  American  Bible  Society — Happy  Death— Family  in 
Illinois— Great  Revival  in  Wheeiersburg— Infidel  Converted— Extends 
to  the  Country — Team  for  Grace — Converted  and  Kept  His  Team- 
Crowds  Come  to  the  Altar  —  Thomas  O'Neal  —  His  Influence  and 
Death—Rum's  Victim  —Amusing  Incident — Win.  R.  Anderson,  E.  V. 
Bing,  A.  M.,  Alexander  Longman,  and  Rev.  James  Donahoo,  .  -  20 


CHAPTER     VII. 

MY   FIRST   CIRCUIT. 

Tribute  to  Rev.  C.  Ferguson  —  Rev.  Joseph  Morris—  Counsels  of  Rev.  Daniel 
Young  —  Mr.  Dempsey  —  Wonderful  Memory  —  Remarkable  Conversion 
of  Mr.  Wood  —  Happy  Death  —  Meeting  Lawrence  Furnace  —  Dillon's 
Prayer  in  "Grove—  Glorious  Victory—  Death  of  my  Son  —  Grave  near 
Where  I  United  with  the  Church  —  Attack  Bilious  Fever  iJ? 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

BURLINGTON   CIRCUIT—  STIRRING    SCENES. 

Political  Matters—  Old  Rome,  Home  of  Camp  -Meetings—  Great  Revival  at 
Keeny's  —  Moving  Scene  :  Mother  goes  to  Church  to  Watch  her 
Daughter  —  Shouting  Scene  Reversed  —  My  Father's  Death  —  Young 
Man's  Sad  History—  Kitchen  Work  by  Minister—  Elijah  Fields,  .  .  33 

CHAPTER    IX. 

INCIDENTS    CONTINUED. 

Bad  Spiritual  State  in  Society  —  Church  Doors  Opened  to  Go  Out-  -New  Class 
Opened  —  Amusing  Incident—  Cackling  Sermon  —  All  Conquering 
Motto—  Tribute  to  Burlington  Charge  ........  40 

CHAPTER    X. 

RESOLVED  TO    GO   WEST—  INTRODUCTION    TO    IOWA. 

Direct  Answer  to  Prayer—  Route  to  Iowa—  Arrived  at  Burlington—  Camp- 
Meeting  —  Elder  Weed  and  Son  —  Names  of  Preachers  in  Iowa  Confer- 
ence —  Old  Zion's  History  —  Rev.  R.  Hnney's  Sermon  —  My  Appointment 
to  Mt.  Pleasant  —Reflections  on  the  Way  ........  4:i 


CONTEXTS.  Xlil 

CHAPTER    XI. 

MY    FIRST   CHARGE    IN    IOWA— PIONEER    EXPERIENCES. 

PAGE. 

First  Sermon — Sugar-Sticks — Iowa  Wesleyan  University — Rev.  William 
Simpson— Value  of  Friendly  Criticism— Western  Cities— Interesting 
History— Sister  Livertnore — Revival  in  Bail  Room— Intelligence  of 
Early  Settlers— Aristocracy  in  New  Country— Monuments  of  Pioneer 
Life  Still  Standing— Institution  Moved  by  the  Force  of  Circumstances,  48 

CHAPTER    XII. 

PIONEER    HISTORY   CONTINUED— FIRST    CIRCUIT. 

Sketch  of  Rev.  A.  Coleman,  Rev.  Joel  B.  Arrington,  I.  I.  Stewart,  I,.  B. 
Dennis,  Thomas  Kirkpatrick  —  Infidel  Attack:  His  Discomfiture  — 
Rejoicing  Over  His  Defeat— Revival  in  Mt.  Pleasant— Rev.  E.  S. 
Norris— Spiritual  Reaction — Interesting  Death — Fearful  Contrast — 
Rev.  Alcinous  Young— Names  of  Some  Brethren— Salary  of  First 
Circuit, 55 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

NEW   TERRITORY    AND    NEW    HISTORY. 

Bishop  Hamlinc — Worked  by  Rule — His  Devotion  and  Counsel — Water  Bath 
in  River— Reached  My  Work— Rev.  John  Jay— Shouting  for  a  Whole 
Camp  Meeting  -Took  the  Ague  and  Fever — Length  of  Mission— Meet 
an  Old  Acquaintance — Sad  End — Montgomery  City  all  Converted  — 
Very  Interesting  Incident— Brother  and  Sister  Rodman— Rich  Experi- 
ences Gold  could  not  Buy, .63 

C  H  A  P  T  E  R    X  L  V. 

PIONEER    HISTORY   CONTINUED— CLEAR   CREEK    MISSION. 

Camp-Meeting  Held— Interesting  Circumstance— Young  Lady's  Heroism  — 
German  Camp -Meeting — Remarkable  Answer  to  Prayer — Rowdies 
Discomfited  and  the  Cause  Vindicated— Elder  Jacoby,  .  .  .71 

CHAPTER    XV. 

MINING  DISTRICTS — ITS  CEDAR  CLIFFS  AND  CRYSTAL  SPRINGS. 

Conference  at  Mt.  Pleasant— Hon.  James  Harlan— My  Work—  Dubuque 
Circuit — Rev.  G.  B.  Bowman,  Presiding  Elder — Comment  on  Long 
Sermons— Wonderful  Revival—Touching  Incident — Godliness  Profit 
able— Revival  Extends  to  Rockdale— Results— Five  Months  Without 
Rest— Preached  Standing  on  One  Foot— Two  Forward  :  one  Eighty 
and  the  other  Seventy -five — Wellington's  Soldier — Remarkable  Work 
of  Grace — Touching  Incidents:  Mother  holds  Children,  and  Wife 
Saved:  Vice  versa— Mr.  Loomis  from  New  York— Caution  in  Taking 
Pledges— Practical  Effect  of  the  Christian  Religion— Rev.  E.  S.  Norris,  74 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

DUBUQUE   CIRCUIT — ITS    INTERESTING    HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

PAGE. 

My  Pointed  Sermon  and  Whisky  Barrel — Confession  Made — Head  Knocked 
In— Chapel  Built— A  Sleepy  Shout,  a  Little  Doubtful  as  to  a  Genuine 
Article— A  Minister's  Success  in  this  Line — Convictions  of  Duty  as  to 
Temporal  Matters — Rev.  H.  W.  Reed :  Tribute  of  Respect— Young 
Sprig  Silenced  — Honorable  Mention  of  Mr.  Thomas  Simpson  of 
Winona— Father  Rowley, 81 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

DUBUQUE  CIRCUIT  CONTINUED — ITS   LABORS   AND  VICTORIES. 

Secret  Societies— Spiritual  Reaction— Claim  Difficulties — Visit  Maquoketa 
and  DeWitt — Baptism  in  Creek — Skill  in  Immersion — The  Safest  and 
Much  the  Best  Way— Names  of  Local  Brethren  and  Some  of  the  Laity 
on  this  Work, 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


DUBUQUE   STATION — DEPRESSION    AND   TRIUMPH. 

.Conference  at  Fort  Madison— Bishop  Janes— His  First  Visit  to  Iowa — Ser- 
mon on  Sabbath — Rev.  John  Harris,  my  Colleague — Rise  Above  Diffi- 
culties—  Remarkable  Revival  —  One  Hundred  Souls  Saved — Joyful 
Legacy — Fearful  Suicide — Liquor's  Doings — Influence  Catholic  Church 
in  Dubuque — Bishop  Raising  the  Dead — Lesson  Learned  on  Sermon- 
izing— Debate— Cam<>bellite's  Defeat,  ' 95 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

DAVENPORT   STATION  —ITS   SACRED   HISTORY. 

Conference  at  Fairfield — Stop  at  Davenport,  2  p.  M. — Records  of  Conference 
Stolen— Found  in  Brush  Pile — Interests  in  Travel  with  Elder  Reed- 
Elder's  Trials  and  Comforts -Care  in  Receiving  Preachers— Peculiar 
'I  ri;il  Sermon — Bishop  Hamline — Elected  Secretary — Appointment  at 
Davenport— Rev.  J.  L.  Kelly  -Revival  at  Cooper's  Chapel— Two  Cases 
of  Interest — Home  at  Rev.  Alcinous  Young's — Sister  Young— Homes 
of  Some  Brethren — Run  for  Life— Rev.  R.  Ricker— Female  Seminary — 
Tribute  to  Hon.  Hiram  Price— Rev.  William  Burris— Judge  Cook — 
Great  Work  at  Muscatine— Righteous  Never  Forsaken— Conference 
Meets  at  Davenport — Mv  Brother  James — Delazon  Smith  Introduced — 
Lectures  on  Infidelity— Remarkable  Pentecost  at  Close  of  Conference,  103 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER    XX. 

DAVENPORT  STATION — SECOND  YEAR— A  YEAR  OF  JUBILEE. 

PAGE. 

Spiritual  Prosperity — Names  of  Converts — Causes  of  Prosperity — High 
Spiritual  Standard — Illustrated — Faith  of  Favorable  Circumstances: 
Whilst  Harness  Good  —  Edifying:  Sermon  —  Another  —  Henry  Clay 
Dean — Great  Work  in  Muscatine — Conversion  of  Young  Man  on  his 
Feet— Triumphant  Death  of  Sister  Borland — Letter  from  Brother  in 
Illinois  on  his  Tobacco  Vow — True  Testimony — Remarkable  Spiritual 
Exercise  in  Relation  to  him — Revelation  Made  to  Sister  Young — In 
which  it  Proved  True — The  Holy  Spirit  the  Reveaier — Remarkable 
Answer  to  Prayer — Bro.  Morton, 115 

CHAPTER     XXI. 

BURLINGTON    STATION — ITS   LABORS  AND  VICTORIES — FIRST   YEAR. 

Conference  Session  in  Burlington — Difficulties — Financial  Statement — Pastor 
and  Financier — Hard  Labor  and  Success  —  Revival  Commences  — 
Charge  Divided— David  Worthington— Win.  Corkhill— Bible- Agent- 
Test  Sermon,  but  Small  Fruits — Henty  Clay  Dean — Eloquent  Sermon — 
Colored  Preacher — Letter  from  Hiram  Price,  Davenport:  Marriage  of 
His  Oldest  Daughter— Tribute  to  Hon.  John  F.  Dillon— Sad  Death- 
Fearful  Folly,  Forcing  Ourselves  into  Eternity — Eloquence  in  Prayer- 
Phoebe  Porter — Visit  Fort  Madison — Rev.  Wm.  Simpson— Brother 
James — Judge  Stockton  —  Prosperous  Sunday-school:  I  Endeavor 
Always  to  be  Present— Affection  of  Children  Secured,  .  ...  .123 

CHAPTER     XX11. 

BURLINGTON   STATION— SECOND   YEAR — CONTINUED  PROSPERITY. 

Dr.  Chalmers'  Compliment— Old  Zion  Newly  Roofed— Wedding  Depart- 
ment— Rare  Case — Visit  Oskaloosa  for  Conference  —  Meeting  Old 
Friends — Relapse  by  Overwork — Re-appointed  to  Burlington  Station — 
Rev.  D.  N.  Smith— Samuel  Clark  and  Rev.  E.  Lathrop— Rev.  W.  F. 
Cowles— Great  Revival :  Second  Year— Embracing  Charles  C.  McCabe, 
Mother's  Devotion  and  Triumphant  Death — One  Hundred  Added  to 
Old  Zion— C.  C.  McCabe  Appointed  Leader— Leaves  for  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan  University — His  Rare  Talents  in  Youth — My  Visit  to  Ohio — 
Railroad  Scare — Visit  C.  Ferguson — Nature's  Inspiration— Beautiful 
Verse— A  Visit  to  the  Grave  of  My  Relatives— Little  Susan— Preach 
to  My  Old  Scholars— Change  and  Sorrow,  but  Grace  Remains— Will 
our  Dear  Children  in  Heaven  be  what  they  were  when  they  left  us  ? — 
Return  to  My  Station — Camp- Meeting  at  Long  Grove — Remarkable 
Conversion  of  Mr.  Johnson  —  Camp-Meeting  in  Illinois  —  Woman's 
Influence— Farewell  to  Burlington, 133 


XVI  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER     XXI  II. 

DUBUQUE   CITY — CENTENARY    HISTORY — SECOND    APPOINTMENT. 

PAGE. 

Conference  at  Dubuque — Preached  for  Bible  Agent — Bible  Anniversary — 
Speaker  Failed — Tribute  to  Rev.  Thos.  Corkhill — Appointments  Read 
— Centenary  Improved — Names  of  Official  Brethren— First  Sermon — 
Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett'  Mistakes  Concerning  Him — Writer's  Decision  in 
Appointment  at  Davenport — New  History — Tribute  to  Him — Touching 
Incident — Centenary  Charge  Preferred — Blessed  Revival — Conversion 
of  Oliver  J.  Cowles — Counsel  Him  for  the  Ministry— Tribute  to  His 
Memory — Case  of  Delirium  Tremens—  Suicide — Influence  of  Faith 
Liquor's  Doings — Elder  J.  G.  Dimmitt:  Once  Disconcerted  by  Chil- 
dren Crying — Amusing  Introduction — His  Death — Amanda  M.  Sam- 
uels— Rev.  Jas.  R.  Goodrich — Farewell  to  Centenary  and  Friends,  .  14? 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL   AGENT   FQR   UPPER   IOWA   CONFERENCE. 

Conference  at  Keokuk— Bishop  Simpson's  First  Visit — Writer  His  Private 
Secretary — Sermon  on  the  Sabbath— Effect— Dr.  Berry  of  Indiana- 
Rev.  J.  V.  Watson — Conference  Divided  —  My  Appointment — Rev.  J. 
R.  Cameron  —  Dr.  Baird  of  Pittsburg  -Visit  to  Butler  and  Grundy 
Counties  —  Land  Office  —  Character  of  my  Work  —  Hearty  Reception 
Among  Ministers— Rev.  R.  Swearingen— Severity  of  Winter — Dr.  Ful- 
ler of  West  Union— Robertson  of  Fayette— Webb  of  Farmersburg  — 
Youth— Rev.  F.  X.  Miller— Result  of  a  Simple  Question- Visit  Deco- 
i  ah  — Rev.  Byam — Hard  Labor  and  Discouragement—  Results  :  Two 
Ministers— Richard  Watson's  Text— Trial  Sermon— Tribute  to  J.  R. 
Cameron— Visit  Camanchc— Rev.  J  B.  Taylor— Great  Revival,  .  .  156 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

___        HISTORY   OF   SUNDAY-SCHOOL    WORK  CONTINUED. 

Tribute  to  Rev.  J.  B.  Taylor — Visit  to  Rev.  George  Clifford— Much  Embar- 
rassed —  Rendered  Him  Assistance  —  Narrow  Escape  —  Something 
About  Sloughs — Amusing  Episode:  Changed  into  Verse — Muses 
Awakened — Rich  Visit  to  Dewitt — Brother  Amos'  Recollections  of  Dr. 
Fuller — Stationed  at  Sioux  City  at  my  Request— Success  Attended  His 
Labors 163 

CHAPTER    XXV.I. 

PIONEER    HISTORY  —  NEW    AM)     RICH      EXPERIENCES     OX 

SIOUX    CITY    DISTRICT. 

Conference  at  Maquoketa—  Man  Wanted  for  Sioux  C'ity  District — Volun- 
teered to  Go— Joy  in  the  Cabinet:  the  Bishop's  "  Glory" — Rev.  D.  J. 
Havens — Views  of  Pioneer  Glory — Kills  Prairie  Chicken— Inspiration 


CONTENTS.  XV11 


PAGE. 

in  a  Cup  of  Coffee — Corn  Swept  Away  by  Frost — First  Sermon  at 
Smithland — Virtue  of  Cowper's  Verse  :  "lam  Monarch,"  &c.— Reach 
Sergeant's  Bluff  and  Sioux  City— Warm  Reception— Build  a  Study — 
Winter  Commenced  December  First :  Four  Feet  of  Snow — People 
Without  Provisions — Severity  of  the  Storm— Food  Gone — Start  for 
Council  Bluffs,  One  Hundred  Miles  —  Perilous  Journey — Ravenous 
Wolves— Corn  Two  Dollars  per  Bushel — Friendships  Sacred  :  Formed 
Under  Hardships — Pleasant  Visitors:  E.  R.  Kirk,  Alexander  and  Cor- 
nelius McLean—"  December  as  Pleasant  as  May  " — Visit  Smithland— 
Interesting-  Revival— Preacher  Married — Spirit  Lake  Massacre  :  A  True 
History— Whisky  at  the  Front — Great  Excitement — People  Collect  in 
Houses  and  Fortify — Retreat  of  a  Bravado — My  Own  Peril  and  Es- 
cape— Indian  Character — Eastern  Visitors— Growth  of  Sioux  City — 
Intelligence  of  the  People — Brother  and  Sister  Yeomans — Repair  to 
our  Annual  Conference,  .  .  170 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

PIONEER    HISTORY   CONTINUED— BISHOP  AMES    MY  TRAVEL- 
ING  COMPANION. 

Conference  at  Marion — Bishop  Ames  Goes  to  DCS  Moines — Above  a  Bishop — 
Fancy  Horse — Dine  at  Hotel — Rev.  J.  B.  Hardy — Sunday  Sermon — 
Doctor  Jocelyn — Grove  Preparation — Victory  on  Monday  Morning-- 
Tribute to  Doctor  Jocelyn — Return  to  Sioux  City — Names  of  Ministers 
— Temperance  and  Revival — Death  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Campbell — District 
Turned  into  ;x  Circuit:  Three  Hundred  Miles  Around  —  Building 
Bridg-es— Forty  Miles  Prairie— Herd  of  One  Hundred  Elk— Grand 
Sight — Morris  McHenry — Twenty  Persons  Immersed — Ida  Grove  His- 
tory—Mr. Moorehead— Settlement  with  Minister:  Twenty-five  Cents 
Ahead— References  to  I.  T.  Martin— Millards— Death  of  Brother  Brin- 
dell— Rev.  C.  McLean— First  Sermon  in  Dakota— Saloons  in  Sioux 
City  :  Sad  Case— High  Waters  :  Swimming  a  Necessity— Last  Through 
on  District — Delay  at  Smithland — Interest  at  Sac  City — Touching  De  - 
parture — How  we  Crossed  the  Streams — Beyond  the  Perils  of  Waters — 
Now  a  Short  Review — Extract  from  Doctor  Yeomans — Conclusion  of 
Sioux  City  History, ' 181 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

MAQUOKETA   STATION — HARD   LABOR    BUT   RICH    REWARD. 

Conference  at  Lyons — Supply  my  District  \vith  Good  Men- — Society  in  Good 
Condition — Brother  G.  W.  Bnndell — Basement  Unfinished — A  Work  of 
Necessity  —  Soon  a  Success  — Pastor  Remunerated  —  Noble  Band  of 
Workers — Gracious  Revival  —  Interesting  Scene  —  Rev.  J.  C.  Ayres  : 
Companion  of  Rev.  O.  J.  Cowles — Interesting  Sunday-school — Sister 
Catlin— Amusing  Foot-Race—Comments  in  Sunday-school — Failure  of 
Health— Rev.  S.  Y.  Harmer— Night  Peril— Brother  J.  W.  Martin  and 
S.  Poff  licensed  to  Preach— Noble  Conduct  of  a  Lady,  ...  .194 
1* 


XV111  CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


MAQUOKETA    HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

I 

Letter  from  R.  L.  Collier — Married  to  Miss  Mary  Price :  Marriage  Ceremony 
Commended — Tribute  to  Rev.  Collier  and  Companion— Baptism  by  Im- 
mersion: Strange  Episode— Party  Prosecuted  —  Friends  Vote  me  a 
Release  to  Visit  Ohio — Contrast  in  Nature — Sabbath  in  Portsmouth  — 
Wheelersburg — Continued  Feast— Visit  Ironton — Brother  and  Sister 
Peters— Meet  C.  C.  McCabe— Cup  of  Joy  Full— Preached  on  Sabbath- 
Meet  Professor  Kingsbury — Rev.  Van  Anda's  Sermon— Last  Meeting 
of  Friends  on  Earth — Miss  Peters'  name  changed  to  McCabe— Returned 
to  my  Charge:  Warm  Reception  on  my  Arrival— Success  and  Pros- 
perity all  the  Year— Sketch  of  Doctor  McCabe— Family  History— 
Where  Educated — Taught  School— Married  Miss  Peters— Son  John 
Peters— Joined  Conference — Enters  the  Army— Taken  Prisoner— Re- 
leased— Christian  Commission — His  Great  Success— Revival  in  Bri- 
gade— Return  to  Pastoral  Work — Appointed  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio — 
Builds  Chapel — Agent  Ohio  Wesleyan  University — Then  to  Church 
Extension — Loan  Fund — Built  Church  Salt  Lake  City — One  in  Oregon 
—Character  as  a  Lecturer — Gettysburg  Celebration  in  Prison — Vo- 
calist,   


CHAPTER    XXX. 

MAQUOKETA — SECOND     YEAR  —  FAILURE     OP     HEALTH  — 
VISIT   THE   ROCKY   MOUNTAINS. 

Conference  at  Iowa  City — Elected  Secretary — To  Transcribe  Conference  Jour- 
nals—Election  of  Delegates— Returned  to  Maquoketa— Inviting  Field  of 
Labor — Visited  Iowa  Conference  at  Muscatine — Bishop  Simpson's  Ser- 
mon—Studied Sermon  on  Returning  Home — My  Text  given  me — 
Preached  on  Sabbath— Soul  Converted  under  the  Sermon— Day  of  Re- 
joicing— Transcribing  Journals— Preacher's  Apology :  Then  a  Torrent 
— What  Folly — Counseled  as  to  Marriage — Character  of  my  Advice — 
Cases  of  Interest — Interchange  with  Brother  Brewer — Brother  Caleb 
Twissand  Preacher — My  Caleb  Sermon— Amusing  Excitement— Forces 
Expended  in  a  Hearty  Laugh — Health  Feeble— Interesting  Tea  Meet 
ing— Speakers,  Revs.  A.  J.  Kynett,  G.  W.  Brindell,  Doctor  Wheeler- 
Tribute  to  Dr.  Wheeler  —  Resignation  —  Second  Quarterly  Meeting  — 
Start  for  Colorado 213 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

INTERESTING   TRIP   TO  THE    "  LAND  OF  GOLD." 

Thirteen  Days  to  Council  Bluffs:  Three  Hundred  and  Fifty  Miles— Kept  the 
Sabbath— Remained  Four  Weeks — Found  Doctor  Golliday — Thomas 
H.  Benton— Preached  Once — Elected  Cook  and  Financier — Visit  of 
Pawnee  Chief— Interview — Pawnees  Fight  on  Ponies — Indian  Female 


CONTENTS.  XIX 


PAGE. 

Beauty:  All  Fanciful — Indians  Stampede  Horses — Reports  of  Hostil- 
ity—A Very  Amusing'  Incident— Buffalo  Skulls — Cruel  Slaughter — 
Herds  of  Antelope:  How  Captured  by  the  Indians — Prairie  Dogs: 
Their  Cities  :  Hundreds  Barking  at  Once — Returning  Emigrants—  Lit- 
tle End  of  the  Horn  —  First  Sight  of  the  Snowy  Range — Long's  Peak 
— A  Grand  Sight  within  Twenty  or  Thirty  Miles — Reflections — Grada- 
tion in  Height — Five  Hundred  Warriors— Medicine  Man — Scrap  of 
History— Return  of  Warriors— Burn  a  Prisoner — Doleful  Celebration- 
Two  Boys  Purchased— Revolting  Spectacle— Denver  City— Gambling 
a  Legitimate  Business  —  Postoffice  —  Mountains  Twenty  Miles  from 
Denver— Left  Teams  at  Golden  City,  ........  218 


CHAPTER    XXXTT. 

MISTAKEN    VIEWS    OF    MOUNTAIN    AIR  —  NEW    KNOWLEDGE 
GAINED. 

Lightness  of  the  Air— Heavy-Chested  Suffered  Most— Little  Spice  Climbing 
Hill — Genius  and  Application  —  Occasional  Rock —Application  and 
Lesson  of  Instruction — Way  to  Heaven  is  Upward  :  And  here  our 
Views  Expanded  and  Firm  Footing — Shout  Victory  at  the  Top — 
Almost  Destitute  of  Animal  Life — St.  Patrick — Attended  Church— The 
Preacher  Detected,  and  announced  that  he  would  Preach  next  Sab- 
bath—Mountain Home:  All  Spruce — Sabbath  Arrived:  Fifteen  Miles 
to  Walk — Arrived  in  Time— Large  Assembly — Sabbath  Day's  Journey 
Thirty  Miles— Butcher's  Shop  on  our  Claim— Saloon-Keeper  Ousted-- 
Son  of  Dr.  Elliot — Bower  of  Prayer — Depressing  Genius — Homesick — 
Effects — Next  Religious  Service — Mountain -Side — Supplied  Denver — 
Durable  Bread — Brother  Williams'  Amusing  Mistake — Indian's  Vale- 
dictory—Sold Claim -- Cleared  Five  Hundred  Dollars— 'Started  for 
Home— Pleasant  Trip  all  the  Way— Green— Transporting  Effect  of 
Home — Xenophon's  Soldiers — Spots  on  Sun— Gained  Thirty  Pounds  of 
Flesh  Across  the  Plains— Spent  the  Sabbath  at  Brooklyn— Brother 
Wilson  :  Happy  Interview — Confined  Room — Reception  atMaquoketa — 
Rev.  A.  B.  Kendig— New  Field  of  Labor  Ready, 227 


CHAPTER     X  X  X I  I  I  . 

IOWA    CITY— ITS    THRILLING    HISTORY — WAR   COMMENCED. 

Elected  for  Iowa  City— Succeeded  Rev.  E.  C.  Byam— President  Spencer- 
Rev.  A.  Hart — Pleasant  Home  — Blues:  How  Dissipated  —  Striking 
Case— Rev.  A.  Young  :  Two  Remarkable  Cases  Given  by  Him — Break- 
ing out  of  the  War— Iowa  City — Military  Camp — Touching  Incident — 
War,  Stigma  to  a  Christian  Nation— Prayer-Meetings— Rev.  Pancoast — 
Gov.  Kirkwood — Sister  Carlton's  Pleasant  Resort — Soldiers'  Return — 
Conclusion, 239 


XX  C  O  M  T  K.  JN  T  S  . 


CHAPTER      XXXTV. 


CEDAR  FALLS  AND  DAVENPORT. 

PAGE. 

Introduction  to  Cedar  Falls — Revival  at  Waterloo — Rev.  Joseph  Ridlington — 
Home  at  Brother  and  Sister  Miller's — War  Interest :  Fort  Donelson — 
Hon.  James  Harlan— Parson  Brownlow's  Address — My  Release  and 
Supply:  Rev.  L.  D.  Tracey — Victim  of  Domestic  Wine — One  Round  on 
the  District — Military  Parade  at  Maquoketa — Honors  Shown  us-  Mv 
Appointment  to  Davenport  Station— Sketch  of  Dr.  Kynett :  Family- 
History— Moved  to  Reserve — To  Iowa— Father's  Death— Mt.  Vernon— 
School  Privileges — All  the  Family  Methodists — Covenant  with  God- 
Law— Licensed  to  Preach — First  Sermon— Sent  to  Dubuqne  Circuit- 
Joined  Upper  Iowa  Conference— Catfish  Charge— Stationed  at  Daven- 
port—Marriage— Main  Street,  Dubuque — In  1853  to  Lyons — Presiding 
Elder  Davenport  District — Sanitary  Commission — Elected  to  General 
Conference — Church  Extension  Society— Appointment  by  the  Bishops- 
Elected  Unanimously  since — Success  Attending  his  Labors — Honorary 
Degree  of  D.D 252 


CHAPTER      XXXV. 


INTERESTS  OF  VINELAND,  N.  J. 

Introduction  to  Vineland — Visit  Millville — Ministerial  Etiquette— Temper- 
ance Meeting— Mr.  Charles  K.  Landis— Built  Cottage — Organized  M. 
E.  Church— Mr.  Landis  Donated  Church  Lot— Revival  in  Millville- - 
Visited  New  Jersey  Conference  —  Xew  Irish  Preacher  —  Revival  in 
Colored  Church — Incidents  —  Garden  and  Flowers — Judge  Burris — 
Battle  of  Gettysburg  :  Fourth  of  July  Celebration — Providential  Direc- 
tion as  to  the  Sale  of  my  Home— Interesting  Review  of  Vineland — 
Historical  Facts — Regretful  Departure, 266 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 


CLINTON   STATION — 1863. 

Conference  at  Davenport— Home  at  Brother  and  Sister  Morton's — Meeting  at 
Judge  Dillon's  —  My  Appointment  —  Character  ot  the  Brethren  — 
Revival  -  S.  Shoecraft,  Teacher  -  Rev.  K.  K.  Young  —  Rev.  S.  N. 
Fellows,  D.D. — Revival  in  Country  —  Importance  of  Casting  Out 
Satan — Striking  Fact — Elijah  Frampton — Smoke  Stack  Destroyed — 
Sunday  Work — Rev.  Wm.  Lease — Tribute  to  Him— Reference  to  my 
Son,  James  L.  Taylor — Resided  with  him  One  Year  in  Ohio— Letter 
from  Sister  Simpson — William  Simpson's  Happy  Death — Contrast  in 
the  History  of  Clinton — Farewell,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  276 


CONTENTS.  XXI 


CHAPTER     XXXVII. 

A  SHORT  REST — THE  CONFERENCE  FOR  MY  PARISH — BIBLE 
AGENCY. 

PAGE. 

Conference  at  Waterloo — Loyalty  to  the  Union — Organization  of  Church 
Extension  Society  — Rev.  C.  G.  Trusdell — Incident — Assassination  of 
President  Lincoln— Tobacco  Repulse — Bible  Agency — Rev.  W.  Frank 
Paxton's  Tribute— J.  H.  Todd  —  Father  Gruber's  Penitent-  Bible 
Helpers— Tribute  to  Dr.  Brush— Waverly  Quarterly  Meeting— Rev.  J. 
W.  Clinton— F.  X.  Miller-Rev.  Swearingen-  Visit  to  Michigan— Pur- 
chase of  Property — Resignation  of  the  Bible  Agency  :  Accepted  at  the 
End  of  Six  Months— Rev.  Chambers  my  Successor— Appointment  to 
LeClaire— Presiding  Elder  E.  Miller,  ...  ...  286 


CHAPTER     XXXV  III. 

LE   CLAIRE — ITS    PROSPEROUS    AND    PLEASANT    YEAR. 

Reference  to  the  Death  of  Joel  B.  Taylor— Early  History— Change  in  Twenty 
Years— Interesting  Revival— Rev.  E.  Miller,  Presiding  Elder— Rev.  J. 
H.  Rigby  —  Pleasant  Associations  — Rev.  Miller's  Remarks:  Their 
Truthfulness — Love  the  Moving  Power— Death  of  Mr.  Stone — Tribute 
to  Rev.  J.  H.  Rigby — Tribute  to  Rev.  E.  Miller — Camp-meeting  at 
Camanche — Harmless  Slide — Glee -club  Manifestations — Appropriate- 
ness in  Selecting  Texts — Summerfield  and  Bascom — Sudden  Death  of  a 
Young  Man— Attended  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Low  Moor,  ...  296 


CHAPTER     XXXIX. 

LOW   MOOR — ITS  LABORS,   TRIALS,   AND   VICTORIES. 

Starting  out  in  Pastoral  Labors — Figure  of  a  Vessel — Providence  can  Con- 
trol—Interest of  Old  Truths — Meeting  at  Hatfield's  School  House — 
Confidence  Betrayed — Home  at  Brother  and  Sister  Kistner's — Church 
Embarrassment — A  New  and  Strange  History — Tornado's  Doings — 
Testimony  of  Rev.  S.  C.  Freer  —  Kitchen  Demolished  —  Saloon- 
Keeper's  Remark, and  Result — Camanche  Nearly  Destroyed — Righteous 
Preserved — Remarkable  Preservation  of  Brother  Kistner's  Family: 
Also,  Sister  Williams  of  Albany— My  Personal  Experience  in  Chemung, 
N.  Y.— Tribute  to  Rev.  S.  C.  Freer— Interesting  Quarterly  Meeting 
with  Brother  Isaac  Newton  —  Pleasant  Recollections  of  him  and 
Family— Again  sit  Camp-meeting—interesting  Restoration  of  Mr.  B.  : 
His  Happy  Relation  of  it— Convert  of  Father  Collins — Camanche — 
The  Contrast— Dr.  Rhea,  Lyman  Catlin,  Rev.  G.  W.  Rogers— Perils  of 
Sleep  —  Exhortation  Following  —  Congratulations  for  the  Victory  — 
Decided  Success  all  the  Way  Through — Solemn  to  Part — Attack  Scarlet 
Fever — Death  of  Little  Girl  —  Conference  at  Clinton  —  Took  Super- 
annuated Relation — Repair  to  my  Pleasant  Home  in  Michigan,  .  .  304 


XX11  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER     XL. 

WYOMING— MY   LAST   STATION   IN   UPPER   IOWA  CONFERENCE. 

PAGE. 

Will  our  Names  be  Changed  in  Heaven  ?  No  one  Kn&ws  on  Earth— Dying 
Expression  of  Sister  Young- — Wyoming- — Of  Historic  Importance — 
Visited  Clinton— Preached  on  Sabbath— Pleasant  Reunion— Met  Old 
Pioneer  Friends — Marriage  at  Conference— Meet  an  Old  Friend  from 
Vineland,  New  Jersey — Appointed  to  Wyoming— First  Visited  the 
Town  Twenty  Years  Previous — Rev.  B.  C.  Barnes-- An  Item  of  His- 
tory—Great Labor  and  Poor  Pay — Removal  of  Brother  Barnes  to  Hop- 
kinton— Home  at  W.  Brainerd's — Delhi  Meeting — Rev.  Elias  Skinner 
My  Essay:  Happiness  of  Heaven— Elder's  Essay  on  Amusements — 
Nail  that  Spiked  the  Preacher's  Gun— Narrow  Escape  with  Wild 
Colt— Pleasant  Meeting  at  Colesburg— Rev.  Mr.  Baird— Union  Meet- 
ing— Conversion  of  a  Catholic— Influence  of  a  Little  Girl — Meeting  at 
Epworth — Sacred  Friendships — R.  W.  Keeler:  Assist  Him  at  Daven- 
port—Items of  Interest— Tribute  to  Rev.  R.  W.  Keeler,  D.D.— Base- 
ment Improved — Funeral  and  Sketch  of  Rev.  James  Gilruth — Country 
Appointment— Interview  with  a  Skeptic — Rev.  Elisha  Warner — Con- 
ference Evangelist— Pleasant  Reflections 320 

CHAPTER     XLI. 

LABORS  AND   EXPERIENCES    IN    MICHIGAN. 

Narrow  Escape  in  Chicago— M.  E.  Church  Organized  at  Benton  Harbor- 
Pastor,  Rev.  J.  P.  Force— Revival  at  Hull's  School  House— Church 
Building— Sad  History— Names  of  Pastors  and  Elders— Revival  at 
Pipestone— Camp- Meeting  at  Crystal  Springs— Sacred  Recollections- 
Revival  at  Lawton  and  Porter:  Rev.  J.  P.  Force  Pastor:  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty  Saved — Health  Failed  and  Almost  Home— Partial  Recovery-- 
Visit Ohio  :  Then  Elmira,  New  York— Almost  a  Stranger  and  Unrecog- 
nized—Aunt Olive  and  Children — Visit  the  Old  Home  where  I  was 
Raised  —  Graveyard  —  Solemn  Review  —  Change  —  But  God's  Sun  and 
Moon  and  Stars  still  Shine  all  the  Same— His  Grace  the  Same— Return 
to  Ohio— Ministerial  Associations :  Names  of  Brethren — Rev.  Carr 
Drowned— Pulpit  Labors  in  Ohio— Golden  Wedding— Funeral  of  Will 
iarn  Gilruth— Return  to  Michigan  in  June,  1879--Passed  the  year  at 
Pipestone  with  my  Brother — One  Face  Missing — Then  to  Heath's 
Corners,  where  I  Commenced  Writing  this  History,  ....  338 

CHAPTER     XLII. 

FOR    CHILDREN    AND   YOUTH — STIRRING    FACTS     AND    INCI- 
DENTS. 

Pleasant  Company— Early  Recollections — Children's  Ambition — Necessity  of 
Discipline  —  Young  Pigeons -- Address  in  Sunday-school  —  Looking 
Glass— Drum— Receiving  Drawer— Importance  of  Memory— Indebted- 
ness to  God— Young  Friend  in  Iowa— Pieces  of  Calico— Quilt — Mem- 


CONTENTS.  XXlll 


PAGE. 

ory  Retentive  in  Youth— Paper  Stick  to  Wax  and  not  to  Board— Tree 
Incision:  The  Result — Treasure  up  Early  Pleasant  Things  —  About 
Ghosts — All  Wrong  —  Constantinople  —  First  Speech  —  Endurance  of 
Early  Memories — War  Incident — "Kind  Words  Never  Die" — Dr. 
Clarke— Improve  the  Talents  you  Have— We  Must  Help  Others  to 
Shine— The  Diamond— Queen  Victoria— The  Soul  of  More  Value  than 
Diamonds— This  Life  the  Place  to  Polish— Early  Piety— Nursery : 
Type  of  Coming  Fruit — Every  Day  Helps  to  Make  Character — Shun 
all  Bad  Habits— Tobacco— Nothing  Like  Good  Character— Present 
Decision— The  Traveler  and  the  Rock— Decide  Aright— Ticket— How 
Happy  at  School — Happier,  for  Jesus  to  Say  Well  Done,  .  .  .  350 


CHAPTER     XL  Til. 

ENDURING   MEMORIALS. 

Interest  in  Works  or  Characters  of  Great  Antiquity— Sepulchers  of  the 
Patriarchs — Interest  Clustering  About  the  Walks  of  Jesus — Homes  of 
Wesley  and  Whitefield— Our  Indebtedness  to  Historians— Writer's 
Motive  in  Giving  a  few  Pen  Sketches— Though  Monuments  are  not  so 
High  the  Elements  are  the  Same — History  Immortalized— Reference  to 
Father  McDowell— Sketch  of  Rev.  M.  See— Gift  in  Exhortation-  The 
Secret  of  His  Success— Now  one  among  the  Last  of  Twenty- Five 
Members  of  1845— Sketch  of  Rev.  Horatio  W.  Houghton—  About  my 
own  Age— Learned  the  Art  of  Printing — Conversion — Member  of 
Providence  Conference — Comes  to  Iowa  in  1857 — Presiding  Elder — 
Member  of  General  Conference — His  Important  Work  at  Epworth  in 
Church  Building  and  Recovering  the  Seminary — Sickness — Sketch  of 
Rev.  William  Brush,  D.D.— Birth— Conversion— Where  Educated- 
Marriage — Conference  Relation— Transferred  to  Upper  Iowa— Presi- 
dent of  Upper  Iowa  University — Presiding  Elder — Transfers  to  West 
Texas  —  His  Success  for  Eight  Years  —  Return  to  Upper  Iowa—  His 
Son,  Rev.  F.  E.  Brush — Qualities  of  Doctor  Brush,  .... 


CHAPTER     XL  IV. 

CONCLUSION,    OR    PARTING    WORDS. 

Necessity  of  Hope  and  Courage  in  Every  Enterprise—Interesting  Review 
—"What  Hath  God  Wrought  "—A  Delightful  Contrast— Exalted  Posi- 
tion of  Moses  Typifying  the  Honorable  Relation  of  the  Christian 
Minister— The  Battle  Fought  and  the  Crown  Obtained,  .  .  .368 


THE   BATTLE   FIELD   REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER    I. 

My  gratitude  cannot  be  expressed  when  I  reflect  that  I 
had  my*  birth  and  education  in  a  Christian  family.  My 
father  preached  the  gospel  of  Christ  before  I  was  born,  and 
the  first  things  that  I  can  remember  are  the  words  of  prayer 
and  the  voice  of  song  arising  from  our  family  altar.  My 
father's  name  was  James  Taylor,  and  my  mother's  Julia  A. 
Hathaway  —  the  former  born  on  the  Mohawk,  and  the 
latter  near  Elmira,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  The  name 
of  my  grandmother,  on  my  father's  side,  was  Anna  Landon, 
and  thus  it  is  easy  to  see  how  I  secured  the  name.  Of  my 
father's  family  there  were  three  sons  and  four  daughters; 
the  names  of  the  first,  James,  Robert,  and  Harvey;  of  the 
second,  Olive,  Fanny,  Sally,  and  Amelia.  Four  of  this 
family  are  still  living — Olive,  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  aged  84; 
Sally,  in  Ohio,  82;  Amelia,  in  Michigan,  80;  and  Harvey,  in 
Iowa,  78.  I  give  these  names  and  ages,  as  it  is  a  remark- 
able occurrence  to  see  so  many  of  one  family  spared  to 
reach  the  ages  to  which  they  have  attained.  In  the  early 
history  of  my  father's  family,  they  emigrated  to  Elmira, 
then  called  Newtown,  when  the  country  was  almost  a  wil- 
derness. Here  they  were  subject  to  all  the  inconveniences 
of  a  pioneer  life.  Without  any  religious  privileges,  and 
very  limited  as  to  education,  they  were  called  to  battle 
with  all  the  difficulties  of  a  new  country,  and  resort  to 
almost  every  expedient  to  provide  for  the.  wants  of  a  large 


"Z  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

family.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  my  father  was  brought  to 
see  the  necessity  of  a  renewed  life  by  a  very  peculiar  provi- 
dence. Residing  at  that  time  with  a  family  of  Friends, 
an  old  missionary  put  up  for  the  night.  When  starting 
away  the  next  morning,  as  he  mounted  his  horse  he  said  to 
my  father,  "Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth,"  and  said  no  more.  But  it  was  enough.  The  Holy 
Spirit  made  those  words  effectual  in  reaching  his  heart,  and 
within  a  few  months  he  was  brought  out  into  the  "  light 
and  liberty  of  the  children  of  God."  "  A  word  fitly  spoken, 
how  good  is  it!"  Truly  was  it  so  in  this  case,  for  within  a 
short  time  after  this  happy  change  in  his  life,  he  began  to 
look  around  to  ascertain  where  he  could  unite  with  the 
people  of  God.  The  nearest  organized  church  was  at  John- 
son's Settlement,  near  Ithaca,  and  to  this  place  he  traveled 
on  foot,  that  his  name  might  be  enrolled  in  the  church  of 
his  choice.  His  visit  to  this  settlement  was  well-timed, 
just  as  their  camp-meeting  was  in  progress,  and  they  re- 
ceived him  as  a  brother  beloved.  At  its  close  he  returned 
home  and  at  once  commenced  in  the  work  of  his  Master. 
As  he  called  the  people  together  and  told  them  what  the 
Lord  had  done  for  him  (and  He  was  ready  to  do  the  same 
for  them),  the  good  work  of  revival  commenced  and  many 
were  brought  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth;  and 
thus  the  first  Methodist  church  was  organized  in  that  part 
of  the  State.  As  that  old  missionary  went  on  his  way,  how 
little  did  he  think  of  the  gracious  results  growing  out  of 
those  few  words  which  he  had  spoken.  But  the  mustard  seed 
had  sprung  up  and  was  now  bringing  forth  fruit,  "  some 
thirty,  some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred  fold."  Having  no 
regular  preaching  at  this  time,  my  father  continued  his 
labors,  first  as  an  exhorter,  then  a  licensed  preacher,  having 
charge  of  the  society  until  a  pastor  was  sent  them  by  the 
Genesee  conference.  This  was  the  beginning  of  Meth- 
odism in  and  around  Elmira  in  1807,  and  thus  the  good 
work  has  continued  from  year  to  year,  until  the  Methodist 


F  A  M  I  L  Y      H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  .  3 

Episcopal  Church  now  holds  an  honorable  position  among 
her  sister  churches. 

My  father's  children  consisted  of  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  as  the  former  were  in  unbroken  succession, 
we  had  a  doctor  among  us  by  inheritance  ;  but  the  fruits 
of  liis  medical  skill,  as  I  am  aware,  never  came  to  light. 
Three  of  my  brothers,  besides  myself,  became  .ministers  of 
the  gospel,  and  served  in  the  different  conferences  ;  two 
of  whom  have  passed  on  to  their  reward,  and  the  other  two 
now  hold  a  superannuated  relation  in  the  Upper  Iowa  con- 
ference. My  grandmother,  Anna  Landon,  being  left  a 
widow  by  the  death  of  her  husband,  David  Taylor,  married 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Abijah  Batterson,  a  wealthy  farmer; 
and  as  she  gave  me  my  name,  at  the  age  of  nine  I  went  to 
live  with  them,  and  remained  until  I  was  twenty-one  vears 
of  age.  Here  I  found  a  good  home,  with  good  influences, 
lacking  the  practical  forms  of  Christianity;  and  yet,  so  far 
as  morality  could  go,  they  were  almost  without  fault.  Being 
raised  in  the  land  of  the  Puritans,  the  Sabbath  must  be 
strictly  observed;  truth  must  be  strictly  adhered  to,  pro- 
fanity never  tolerated,  and  loyalty  to  parents  promptly  ren- 
dered. Very  few  Christians  were  more  exacting  touching 
the  exteriors  of  religion  than  they;  except  in  the  season  of 
chestnut  gathering,  when  this  labor  was  regarded  as  a  vir- 
tuous act  even  on  the  Sabbath.  I  never  in  my  boyhood 
could  exactly  reconcile  this  service  to  the  sacredness  of  the 
day,  and  its  consistency  with  their  other  requirements,  ex- 
cept that  it  was  numbered  among  the  works  of  necessity, 
having  no  time  to  attend  to  it  during  the  other  days  of  the 
week.  Since  that  time  I  have  learned  that  conscience  has 
some  curious  freaks,  bending  almost  double  at  times  to  ac- 
commodate itself  to  self-interest.  But,  upon  the  whole, 
my  training  and  counsels  were  good.  My  grandmother! 
was  a  model  woman  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  save  in  this 
important  one — devoted  loyalty  to  God.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen,  there  was  a  great  work  of  reformation  in  the  com- 


6  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

to  passing  hours.  I  continued  in  this  employ  for  some 
weeks,  when  I  was  engaged  to  teach  a  district  school,  at 
twenty-five  dollars  a  month.  This  was  in  French  Grant,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  Whilst  on  my  way  to  Ports- 
mouth, to  be  examined,  previous  to  my  commencement, 
riding  along  on  the  river  bank,  a  fowl  flew  up  and  lit  on 
the  fence,  which  startled  my  horse;  when,  whirling  in- 
stantly, he  struck  his  fore  feet  down  the  steep  bank,  and 
threw  me  at  least  fifteen  feet  towards  the  water's  edge. 
The  only  thing  which  saved  me  was  the  sliding  fall,  cor- 
responding to  the  slant  of  the  bank;  but,  as  it  was,  it  tore 
the  buttons  off  from  my  coat,  and  bruised  my  arms;  but  I 
was  thankful  that  the  injury  was  no  worse.  In  looking 
around  for  my  horse,  I  found  that  he  had  rolled  near  to  the 
edge  of  the  stream,  and  was  waiting  patiently  his  master's 
orders.  Finding  a  place  where  we  could  ascend  the  bank, 
we  started  on  our  way;  but  horse  nor  rider  had  the  least 
ambition  to  repeat  the  history.  In  this  district,  I  taught 
two  winters,  making  my  home  at  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Folsom's. 
My  brother  James  having  married  a  sister  of  Mr.  Folsom,  I 
felt  very  much  at  home. 

On  Christmas  morning  of  the  second  term,  there  occurred 
a  very  amusing  incident.  Among  the  interests  of  that 
early  day,  was  that  of  turning  the  teacher  out  of  doors.  As 
a  rule,  plans  of  this  kind  were  kept  a  profound  secret,  upon 
the  part  of  the  scholars  interested,  in  order  that  the  sur- 
prise might  give  value  to  the  victory;  but  in  this  case, 
some  friendly  scholar  revealed  the  project,  and  thereby  1 
was  the  better  prepared  to  make  my  defense.  The  leader 
in  the  enterprise  was  so  certain  of  success  that  he  had  her- 
alded the  result,  before  the  day  of  trial  had  arrived,  and  by 
this  means  I  was  the  better  qualified  for  the  occasion. 
Christmas  morning  came,  bright  and  beautiful;  an  early 
breakfast  was  prepared  to  suit  the  occasion,  when  I  started 
about  day-dawn  for  the  school-house  which  was  to  be  the 
battle-ground  of  defeat  or  victory.  Fortunately,  our  school- 


SCHOOL     TEACHING.  7 

house  was  more  highly  favored  than  many  at  that  time,  for 
there  was  an  attic,  and  a  space  near  the  chimney  sufficiently 
large  to  admit  one  person,  i.  e.,  of  the  lean  kind,  and 
through  this  I  squeezed  my  way,  and  was  soon  beyond  the 
reach  of  human  vision.  Scarcely  had-  I  reached  the  place 
of  concealment,  when  my  meditations  were  disturbed  by  a 
shrill  whistle,  and  as  I  looked  out  through  the  cracks  of  the 
building,  about  sunrise,  who  should  I  discover  but  the  cap- 
tain of  the  undertaking  making  his  way,  with  confident 
step,  toward  the  house,  with  axe  and  wedges  in  one  hand, 
and  a  rail  on  his  shoulder,  prepared  to  fortify  door  and 
windows  against  any  force  that  might  be  brought  against 
them.  He  soon  struck  up  a  fire,  in  which  I  was  personally 
interested,  and  then  he  went  to  work  securing  the  doors 
and  windows,  and  in  preparing  for  a  siege  defense.  T  need 
not  say  that  it  was  quite  a  task  for  my  impulsive  nature  to 
maintain  a  strict  silence,  but  the  spice  of  the  occasion  de- 
pended upon  it,  and  I  must  not  eat  the  fruit  until  it  was 
fully  ripe.  About  this  time  some  of  the  scholars  began  to 
come  in,  to  be  in  readiness  to  see  the  fun,  and  as  they 
questioned  him  as  to  his  ability  to  "  hold  the  fort,"  he  said 
that  "no  one  man,  even  if  he  was  a  Ya  ikee  school-master, 
could  enter  in  and  keep  school  that  day,  unless  he  agreed 
to  give  the  school  a  good  treat"  And  as  questions  were 
asked,  he  became  more  positive  in  answering  them;  and 
the  nearer  the  hour  when  the  teacher  was  expected,  the 
larger  the  crowd  within,  and  the  greater  the  excitement.  I 
can  say,  to  this  day,  that  I  have  been  in  a  great  many  tight 
places  in  life,  but  seldom  in  one  where  it  required  so  much 
nerve  to  maintain  my  gravity  as  this.  But  the  crisis  had 
arrived,  the  school-hour  had  come,  and,  as  with  all  of  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  nature  he  exclaimed,  "  If  Mr.  Taylor  gets 
into  this  house  to-day,  it  will  be  through  a  shower  of  bench 
legs"  in  the  burst  of  laughter  which  arose  from  the  scholars, 
I  could  not  restrain,  and  cast  in  my  contribution  with  the 
rest.  This  was  the  first  intimation  thev  had  received  that  I 


8  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

was  among  the  defenders  and  prepared  to  keep  the  fort. 
The  surprise  and  capture  which  had  been  prepared,  for  me 
was  transferred  to  other  parties,  as  the  reaction  seemed  to 
carry  everything  before  it.  Never,  in  my  life,  have  I  wit- 
nessed such  a  merriment  as  when  I  came  out  of  my  hiding- 
place.  The  scholars  nearly  all  seemed  in  sympathy  with 
their  teacher,  and  the  victory  was  so  skillfully  won  that  not 
a  treat  was  again  mentioned,  nor  a  holiday  demanded.  The 
school  commenced  at  the  usual  hour,  and  continued  through 
the  day.  At  noon  I  purchased  about  one  bushel  of  apples 
to  please  the  children,  and  thus  the  day  closed  in  peace 
and  harmony;  but  the  leader  of  the  plan  was  so  often  an- 
noyed by  the  scholars  as  to  his  preparations  of  defense  and 
fearful  failure,  that  the  pressure  was  too  great ;  he  left  the 
school  and  did  not  return.  In  my  call  at  noon  at  a  neigh- 
bor's to  purchase  my  apples,  the  old  lady  said  that  "  She 
had  often  heard  of  Yankee  tricks,  but  this  was  the  first  one 
that  ever  took  place  near  their  door."  As  I  repaired  to  my 
home,  they  were  still  ignorant  of  the  success  of  the  day, 
and  here  we  had  our  second  jubilee.  This  was  the  first 
and  last  experience  of  mine  of  this  kind  in  olden  times. 
There  are  many  bright  spots  in  my  history  of  school  teach- 
ing in  days  long  past.  Many  of  my  warmest  friends  living 
are  among  my  old  scholars.  Some  of  them  have  gone  to 
their  reward,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  have  Jived  long  enough 
to  see  this  relic  of  barbarism  pass  away. 


CHAPTER    III. 

At  the  close  of  this  term  of  school-teaching,  my  brother 
having  taken  a  large  job  of  nail-kegs  for  Portsmouth,  I  be 
came  a  partner,  and  continued  with  him  during  the  most  of 
the  year.      My  brother  at  this  time  was  a  bold  and  earnest 
skeptic,  well  read  up  in  the  arguments  of  that  school,  and 


THE    PRODIGALS    RETURN,  9 

i 

a  very  able  debater.  Though  at  that  date  I  was  not  a 
Christian,  yet  we  had  many  arguments  for  and  against  the 
truth  of  revealed  religion.  In  one  instance  I  recollect,  I 
brought  him  to  an  answer  which  he  required  one  day  to 
consider.  The  question  was  this:  "Why  is  it,  if  the  Chris- 
tian religion  is  false  and  a  delusion,  that  in  proportion  as  it 
is  embraced  and  its  influence  prevails  among  nations  and 
communities,  that  they  become  refined,  intelligent,  wealthy 
said  powerful,  and  vice  versa?"  And  the  history  and  maps 
of  the  world  attest  this  beyond  a  doubt.  At  the  end  of 
twenty  four  hours  he  was  no  better  prepared  to  solve  this 
question  than  at  the  beginning*  As  we  were  engaged  in 
our  enterprise  in  the  woods  getting  out  timber,  who  should 
come  upon  us  suddenly  but  our  father  from  the  state  of 
New  York.  He  had  sold  out  his  farm  in  that  state  and  fol- 
lowed his  children  to  the  land  of  promise,  induced  not  only 
by  the  hope  of  bettering  his  condition  as  to  temporal  in- 
terests, but  beyond  this:  that  of  bringing  back  his  prodigal 
son  to  the  good  and  right  way.  His  emigration  proved 
successful  at  this  time,  inasmuch  as  he  had  the  privilege  of 
purchasing  a  small  farm  within  a  few  miles  of  my  brother's, 
and  thus  he  moved  to  his  new  home.  But  1  soon  discovered 
that  my  father  was  not  satisfied  so  long  as  James  was  a 
professed  infidel;  and  his  teaching  and  influence  was  poi- 
sonous to  the  other  members  of  the  family.  He  was  a  man 
of  much  prayer  and  of  very  strong  faith,  and  in  every  im- 
portant undertaking  his  rule  was  to  apply  to  the  source  of 
all  wisdom  for  divine  instruction  and  guidance.  This  was 
the  plan  which  he  had  adopted  in  order  to  recover  his  wan- 
dering boy.  And  in  this  he  had  the  strongest  confidence 
that  he  would  succeed;  having  tested  it  in  so  many  instances 
in  the  history  of  the  past,  and  it  had  never  failed  him, 
he  believed  that  it  would  not  fail  him  now.  That  divine 
power  that  changed  a  Jacob  to  Israel,  a  prisoner  to  a 
prince,  that  gave  him  such  "  power  with  God  and  with 
men,"  would  speedily  change  the  mind  and  heart  of  hi? 


10  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

t 

wayward  son,  and  bring  him  off  victorious.  And  thus  he 
plead  and  pressed  his  suit  from  week  to  week,  until  he  ob- 
tained the  witness  that  his  prayer  was  honored  of  God,  and 
that  his  child  would  be  reclaimed.  He  also  recognized  the 
importance  of  personal  effort  accompanying  prayer,  and 
thus  he  proceeded  at  once  to  make  us  a  visit.  We  were 
busily  engaged  at  work  in  our  shop  when  my  father  arrived, 
but  I  discovered  at  once  that  something  had  occurred  of 
more  than  ordinary  interest.  Just  what,  I  could  not  tell. 
He  introduced  the  subject  gradually  and  yet  prudently; 
referred  to  past  days  and  former  history;  tenderly  informed 
him  what  an  untold  interest  he  had  recently  felt  as  to  his 
spiritual  condition  and  eternal  welfare;  arid  then  ventured 
to  ask  him  if  a  "  change  had  not  already  taken  place  in 
his  views  and  feelings."  To  my  surprise  he  answered 
"yes."  "I  was  aware  of  that,"  said  my  father;  and  here 
the  fountain  of  feeling  opened.  In  the  arms  of  affection 
they  embraced  each  other,  and  their  tears  imparted  an  in- 
terest to  the  scene.  The  great  deep  of  human  sympathy 
seemed  to  be  broken  up — the  one  in  penitential  tears,  and 
the  other  in  overwhelming  joy.  It  reminded  me  of  the 
meeting  of  Joseph  and  his  father  in  the  land  of  Goshen. 
No  brighter  spot  in  all  of  my  father's  life  was  ever  reached 
than  this.  "  Sorrow  endured  for  the  night,  but  joy  came  in 
the  morning."  Though  not  a  Christian,  my  own  heart  was 
moved  in  sympathy  with  the  occasion,  and  the  impression 
on  my  mind  will  last  whilst  memory  endures.  The  result 
is  soon  told.  My  brother  then  and  there  pledged  to  re- 
nounce his  infidelity,  return  to  his  long-rejected  Saviour, 
and  consecrate  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the  service  of 
God.  In  this  covenant  he  was  true  to  his  trust.  Within  a 
few  months  he  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  went  to  work  in  earnest  in  recovering  the  ground  which 
he  had  lost.  But  the  struggle  was  a  severe  one;  for  having 
wandered  so  far  away,  sinned  against  so  much  light,  it  was 
meet  that  the  penalty  should  be  severe,  and  painful  it  was. 


A      \T  A  R  N  I  N  G  .  11 

For  nearly  one  year  he  wept  and  prayed  before  he  was  re- 
stored to  the  favor  of  God.  But  I  must  pass  on  from  this 
scene  of  thrilling  interest — from  my  father  with  his  joys,  and 
my  brother  with  his  penitence,  and  bring  them  forward 
again  at  the  proper  time. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

In  concluding  the  former  chapter  I  was  engaged  at  work 
with  my  brother,  but  at  the  close  of  the  year  I  was  solicited 
by  Mr.  John  Squires,  who  was  then  manager  of  Franklin 
Furnace,  Jr.,  in  French  Grant,  to  engage  as  clerk  in  their 
store;  and  as  this  position  was  more  desirable  than  any  I 
had  held  in  Ohio,  I  gladly  accepted  the  offer  and  entered 
at  once  upon  its  labors.  In  this  employment  the  days 
passed  pleasantly  away.  My  new  home  brought  with  it 
new  friends  and  new  amusements,  among  which  was  the 
playing  of  cards  for  pastime  when  the  day's  labor  was 
ended.  In  this  way  our  winter  evenings  were  spent  with 
some  favored  associate  until  far  in  the  night,  when  our 
wasting  energies  ought  to  have ,  been  replenished  with 
sleep;  and  thus  the  interest  increased  until  one  evening  in 
the  month  of  May,  as  the  clock  struck  ten.  At  that  mo- 
ment the  bell  seemed  to  have  a  warninc/  voice  which  we 
had  never  heard  before.  Each  stroke  seemed  to  speak  of 
the  sinner's  coming  doom.  The  warning  was  not  to  be 
trifled  with,  for  it  spoke  tp  all  present;  and  the  next  mo- 
ment we  were  on  our  feet  taking  the  solemn  vow  that  it 
was  the  last  game  of  cards  that  we  should  ever  play.  This 
night  wound  up  the  history  of  these  amusements,  and  led 
at  once  to  a  life  of  consecration  to  God.  The  next  day  we 
sought  a  place  for  prayer  in  the  consecrated  grove,  and 
this  was  continued  through  the  week,  in  which  sacred  re- 


12        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

treat,  in  my  own  personal  experience,  I  realized  all  that  is 
included  in  the  language  of  the  poet: 

"  The  joys  the  dear  Redeemer  brings 
Will  bear  a  strict  review ; 
Nor  need  we  ever  change  again, 
For  Christ  is  always  new." 

The  following  Sabbath  being  quarterly  meeting,  I  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Wheelersburg, 
Ohio,  and  bade  farewell  to  such  amusements  forever.  This 
happy  event  took  place  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1837,  and 
at  once  I  commenced  a  life  of  labor  for  the  Master.  I  was 
appointed  class-leader  the  same  week  that  I  gave  my  name 
to  the  church.  Our  ministers  at  this  time  on  the' circuit 
were  Wesley  Rowe  and  Daniel  T.  Wainright,  true  and 
faithful  men.  In  the  office  of  class-leader,  without  any  ex- 
perience, I  felt  more  like  being  led  and  taught,  than  to 
lead  others,  and  especially  so  as  the  class  were  old  and  ex- 
perienced members  of  the  church,  among  whom  was  the 
mother  of  Rev.  James  Gilruth.  But  as  an  obedient  son, 
among  such  teachers  I  knew  I  could  learn;  so  a  travel  of  * 
three  miles  found  me  every  Sabbath  in  my  place. 

During  the  fall  of  this  year,  having  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Jane  Vincent,  a  sister  to  Mrs.  Squires,  the 
wife  of  the  manager,  we  were  married  and  lived  very  hap- 
pily together  for  nearly  three  years,  when  an  adverse  provi- 
dence, as  I  then  regarded  it,  put  an  end  to  our  domestic 
bliss  during  life.  Shortly  after  the  birth  of  our  second  son, 
her  health  failed,  and  with  it  the  loss  of  her  reason,  and 
within  three  weeks  became  totally  insane.  This  was  a 
trial  coming  on  so  suddenly,  and  of  such  a  character,  that 
at  times  it  seemed  as  if  it  were  greater  than  I  could  bear. 
It  was  a  shock  so  unexpected  and  severe  that  I  seemed 
totally  unprepared  to  meet  it.  A  few  weeks  previous,  an 
affectionate,  amiable  and  sensible  wife,  respected  and  loved 
by  all  who  knew  her;  but  now,  all  that  is  left  is  but  a  v^m-X1 
of  what  was.  Just  starting  out  in  life,  buoyant  with  hope 


DOMESTIC     AFFLICT  ION-  13 

and  expectations  for  the  future,  home  brightened  with  the 
reception  of  two  bright  and  promising  boys,  and  rendered 
the  more  so  by  our  mutual  love.  But  now  all  is  dark  and 
dreary,  with  scarcely  a  ray  of  light  to  cheer  or  a  hope  to 
comfort.  With  two  helpless  babes  on  my  hands,  where 
shall  I  find  a  mother?  With  an  insane  companion  to  con- 
trol and  watch  over  constantly,  where  shall  I  find  relief? 
The  change  was  so  great,  and  the  sorrow  so  deep,  that  tears, 
though  sought,  refused  to  flow.  This  unfortunate  occur- 
rence took  place  in  February,  1840.  Having  tried  every 
source  for  relief  at  home  for  nearly  four  months  without 
any  success,  I  started  for  Columbus,  to  the  Lunatic  Asylum, 
and  after  four  days  of  exciting  and  dreary  experience,  I 
arrived  there,  and  left  her  in  the  care  of  the  superintendent, 
Dr.  Awl.  I  found  the  doctor  very  kind  and  obliging,  and 
he  did  everything  within  his  power  to  comfort  and  en- 
courage me  in  this  hour  of  domestic  affliction.  Having 
complied  with  all  the  legal  requirements  I  started  for  home. 
Left  to  myself,  all  alone  in  my  carriage,  relieved  of  the 
burden  of  four  months'  cares  and  anxieties,  its  history  now 
coming  up  before  me  like  a  map  spread  out,  I  could  no 
longer  refrain.  The  tender  remembrances  of  the  past 
opened  anew  the  sympathies  of  my  heart,  and  the  tears 
flowed  like  rain.  For  a  time  I  exhibited  more  of  the  traits 
of  a  child  than  of  a  man.  The  forces  had  been  so  long 
collecting,  that  when  nature  gave  way  the  tide  of  feeling 
seemed  to  carry  everything  with  it,  and  like  Joseph,  when 
he  made  himself  known  to  his  brethren,  I  "  wept  aloud." 
But  what  painter  could  describe  my  feelings  when  I  reached 
home!  Here  was  the  house,  the  vacant  rooms,  the  chairs, 
the  stove,  the  bed,  the  table  and  bureau,  with  some  remain- 
ing apparel;  but  not  a  whisper  to  be  heard,  not  a  face  to 
be  seen,  not  a  child's  prattle  nor  a  mother's  song  to  sweeten 
the  joys  of  home.  Even  the  domestic  cat  had  left,  and  the 
impress  of  melancholy  reigned  supreme.  That  hour,  shall 
I  ever  forget?  No,  not  whijst  memory  lasts.  It  is  written 


14  T  H  E     F,  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  \V  E  1)  . 

indelibly  upon  that  page  of  my  history,  and  the  ravages  of 
time  will  never  erase  it.  But  let  me  turn  to  another  page 
of  history. 

What  an  inspiration  there  is  in  hope,  said  "  to  spring 
eternal  in  the  human  breast"!  Being  now  at  home  again, 
and  relieved  of  the  weight  of  labor  and  care  so  long  resting 
upon  me,  I  resumed  my  place  at  the  Furnace.  The  best 
provision  possible  was  made  for  the  children  for  a  time,  in 
the  hope  that  the  mother  would  soon  be  restored  to  the 
bosom  of  her  family;  for  all  other  interests  were  trifling 
when  compared  to  this.  For  this  we  waited,  for  this  we 
hoped,  and  for  this  we  earnestly  prayed.  At  the  expiration 
of  three  months  I  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Awl,  that  my 
companion  was  recovering  and  in  a  short  time  would  be 
able  to  come  home.  These  tidings  inspired  me  with  anew 
life,  and  in  my  rapture  I  could  almost  realize  the  hour  when 
my  domestic  happiness  would  be  restored.  But  like  the 
sun  coming  out  from  behind  the  cloud  to  be  hid  again  soon 
by  one  darker  and  larger,  so  it  was  with  my  transient  joys. 
I  waited  and  wished,  but  no  more  tidings  came  for  months, 
and  finally  when  they  came  her  case  was  decided  incurable. 
In  addition  to  this  the  Furnace  company  failed  about  this 
time,  my  only  source  of  dependence,  indebted  to  me  twelve 
hundred  dollars,  and  left  me  without  a  cent.  Thus  did  one 
misfortune  follow  upon  the  heels  of  another,  and  I  found 
myself  upon  the  approach  of  winter  without  money  and 
without  a  home.  But  this  was  no  time  to  despair,  and 
gathering  courage  from  my  trying  situation,  I  launched  out 
into  the  country  and  was  successful  in  securing  a  district 
school  at  twenty  dollars  per  month.  What  an  important 
lesson  I  had  learned  within  the  space  of  a  few  months; 
that  however  promising  our  prospects  in  life,  how  soon 
they  may  be  blasted.  But  there  was  one  source  of  com- 
fort remaining;  one  Friend  that  would  not  fail  me;  and  sup- 
ported by  this  assurance,  I  knew  that  relief  would  come  at 
last.  And  in  this  I  was  not  disappointed,  for  as  soon  as 


REMARKABLE  AWAKENING.          15 

this  school  was  closed  I  was  applied  to  for  another;  and 
thus  I  continued  for  the  space  of  two  years — the  most  of 
this  time  in  Haverhill,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  How 
mysterious  are  the  workings  of  Providence;  and  though 
the  ordeal  be  severe  through  which  we  pass,  it  is  the  most 
effectual  in  reaching  the  end  to  be  accomplished.  How 
limited  were  my  views  at  this  time  as  to  the  end  to  be 
reached  whilst  passing  through  this  painful  experience. 
For  more  than  two  years  I  had  prayed  daily  for  the  recovery 
of  my  companion,  and  yet  her  condition  was  not  changed, 
but  the  more  confirmed;  and  often  did  I  inquire:  "Why  is 
this  so?  TFAy,  iii  the  morning  of  life,  have  I  been  shorn  of 
everything  dear  to  human  hearts?  Companion  a  blank, 
•home  vacated,  children  scattered,  money  gone,  and  I  like  a  'f 
lonely  exile  upon  the  wave  of  uncertainty."  In  fact,  I  could  ' 
not  comprehend  the  past  nor  read  the  future;  but  through 
all  of  this  domestic  darkness  a  cheering  ray  of  light  would 
shine  .upon  my  path,  and  I  could  read:  "  Though  human 
hopes  may  fail,  the  crown  in  heaven  is  sure."  Amidst  all 
of  the  uncertainties  of  life,  I  was  conscious  of  this,  that 
the  discipline  through  which  I  was  passing  was  bringing 
me  to  think  less  of  earth  and  more  of  heaven. 


CHAPTER   V. 

In  my  last  chapter,  I  was  passing  through  the  shadows 
into  light,  and  this  change  was  very  much  assisted  by  one 
or  two  peculiar  circumstances  connected  with  my  life  at 
Haverhill.  The  first  was  the,  most  remarkable  manifesta- 
tion of  divine  light  of  which  the  human  mind  can  conceive. 
This  was  about  nine  o'clock  at  night,  after  I  had  retired  to 
rest,  and  continued  several  minutes.  I  had  read  of  such 
revelations  in  the  history  of  Christians,  but  to  me  it  was 
entirely  new.  The  light  was  "  above  the  brightness  of  the 
sun,"  and  my  spiritual  joy  and  rapture  corresponded  to  the 


16  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     HE-VIEWED. 

brilliancy  of  the  night.     This  was  not  a  dream  nor  a  vision, 
but  a  divine  reality,  as  I  had  but  just  retired,  and  reasoned 
long  afterward  as  to  the  grand  design  of  this  visitation.     I 
did  not  at  that  time  pretend  to  understand  its  teaching,  but 
I  was  filled  with  wonder  and  with  awe,  and  I  treasured  it 
up  in   my   heart,  waiting   for  the   future   to   interpret  its 
meaning.     For  this  I  did  not  have  long  to  wait.     My  home 
at  Haverhill  was  at  Benjamin  Butterfield's,  a  farmer  from 
New  England,  and  a  life-long  Universalist.     He  was  a  man 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  he  was 
also  one  of  our  school  directors.     During  my  stay  with  the 
family  the  first  month.  I  became  greatly  interested  in  their 
salvation,    and   made    the  father   especially    a   subject  of 
prayer;  for  I  was  conscious  if  he  were  saved,  the  rest  of. 
the  family  would  follow.     This  interest  upon  my  part  was 
continued  but  a  short  time,  when  I  was  overheard  by  him, 
who  understood  the  burden  of  my  petition.     On  the  follow- 
ing morning,  after  breakfast,  sitting  by  the  fire,  I  discov- 
ered that  he  was  all  alive  with  emotion;  his  lips  quivered, 
the  tears   started,  and   he  was  laboring   for  sufficient  com- 
posure to  introduce  a  new  subject.     "  Mr.  Taylor,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  been  anxious  for  some  time  to  have  a  talk  with 
you.     I  have  known  you  for  years,  and  I  have  had  all  con- 
fidence in  your  honesty  and  sincerity,  and  now  I  wish  you 
to  tell  me,  as  a  candid  man,  whether  there  is  any  reality  in 
experimental  religion.     I  have  been   a  professed  Univer- 
salist nearly  all  of  my  life.     I  have  tried  to  be  honest  and 
;  do  right,  but  if  there  is  a  better  way,  where  true  happiness 
is  to  be  found,  I  wish  to  find  it."     This  was  the  coveted  op- 
portunity which  I  had  sought,  and  I  spared  no  pains  to  im- 
prove it  to  the  best  advantage.     After  a  frank  conversation, 
I  left  him   for  my  school-room,  an  honest  inquirer  and  a 
weeping  penitent. 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  to  be  held  in  this  place 
within  a  few  weeks,  and  1  knew  that  this  would  be  a  suit- 
able time  to  improve  upon  the  good  impressions  made. 


P  11  A  Y  E  11       A  N  S  \V  EKED.  1? 

Isaac  C.  Hunter  was  our  presiding  elder  upon  this  occasion, 
and  he  preached  with  power  and  with  effect.     On  Monday 
evening,  as  the  meeting  was  continued,  after  a  short  sermon 
by  Rev.  Charles  Ferguson,  the  junior  preacher  of  the  cir- 
cuit, six  of  rny  oldest  scholars  came  forward  for  prayer,  and 
among  them  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Butterfield.     Being 
their  teacher,  the  pastor  called  upon   me  to  pray  for  their 
salvation,  and  within  a  short  time  they  all  became  the  sub- 
jects   of  saving   grace.     I   now    began   to   understand  the 
reasons  of  that, previous  light.     It  was  but  the  precursor  of 
that  great  uwak&iing,  which  had  now  commenced  already  in 
my  school-room,  and  in  the  salvation   of  my  Own   scholars. 
Among  the  brightest  and  the  happiest  was  the  daughter  of 
my  friend,  and  my  own  joy  was  so  full  and  my  spirit  so 
free    that  all   of  life's   sorrows  had   passed  awray.     Not  a 
cloud  was  left;  not  a  semblance   of  gloom  remained.     All 
sadness  from  this  hour  of  blessing  disappeared,  and  I  was 
brought  out  into  a  plain  where  all  was  sunshine  and  "joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory."     I  could  now  read  the  pages 
of  my  previous  life.     I  could  now  understand  the  reason 
why  my  path  had  been  so   thorny,  and  all  of  my  earthly 
prospects  cut  off.     I  had  been  led  by  a  hand   divine,  and 
disciplined  in  the  school  of  Christ;  and  in  this  teaching  I 
had  been  shown  the  poverty  of  earthly  things,  that  I  might 
place  a  greater  value  on  things  eternal.     So  great  was  the 
change,  and  so   complete   the    victory,  that  I  hardly  dare 
speak  of  past  affliction;  it  was  a  term  too  harsh  when  refer- 
ring to  myself.     How  I  now  realized  that  they  all  had  been 
blessings,  and  I  was   now   prepared  to   work   for  Him  who 
had  done  so  much  for  me.     On  Tuesday  night  the  meeting 
was  continued,  the  invitation  given  for  seekers,  and  among 
them  was  Mr.  Butterfield.     This  was  a  great  surprise  to  his 
old  neighbors,  and  especially  Universalist  friends;  but  the 
decision  was  made,  and  he  was  not  the  man  to  falter  when 
eternal  life  was  at  stake.     The  next  day  at  home   he  found 
the  "  pearl  of  great  price,"  and  rejoiced  in  the  witness  of  a 
3 


18  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

new  life.  The  joy  which  he  now  felt  was  loo  good  to  keep, 
and  he  related  to  others  what  a  Saviour  he  had  found.  And 
thus  the  work  went  on,  until  fifty  were  numbered  as  the 
fruits  of  this  revival.  Mr.  Butterfield  lived  a  very  happy 
man  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then  passed  away  in  great  peace. 
I  stood  by  his  side  and  received  his  last  testimony;  closed 
his  eyes  in  death,  and  rejoiced  with  his  children  in  his 
triumph  through  divine  grace.  His  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Charles  Ferguson,  now  a  member  of  the 
Cincinnati  conference,  and  near  his  old  home  his  remains 
now  sleep  awaiting  the  resurrection  morn. 

With  my  hew  and  glorious  experience,  I  now  felt  that  a 
wider  field  of  usefulness  was  before  me,  and  that  duty  would 
call  me  from  the  school -room  into  the  more  enlarged  work 
of  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  With 
this  conviction,  I  began  in  earnest  to  labor  in  the  work  of 
saving  souls,  and,  though  I  continued  to  teach,  every  spare 
day  and  night  found  me  laboring  to  promote  the  blessed 
work  going  on  through  French  Grant  circuit.  Brother 
Andrew  Murphy  was  senior  preacher  for  this  year  1841-'42, 
and  with  his  colleague,  Brother  Ferguson,  labored  like 
men  of  God.  Such  was  the  character  of  the  work  that 
during  the  conference  year  over  one  thousand  persons  were 
added  to  the  M.  E.  church  on  that  circuit.  In  the  month 
of  June,  A.  D.  1842, 1  received  license  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Though  I  had  been  doing  a  minister's  work  for  many 
months,  the  time  came  when  I  must  receive  authority  from 
the  church.  During  the  quarterly  meeting,  I  was  requested 
by  the  preacher  in  charge  to  preach  my  trial  sermon,  giving 
me  about  two  hours  in  which  to  make  my  preparation. 
This  was  one  of  the  greatest  crosses  of  my  life,  to  appear 
before  a  large  audience  on  trial,  in  the  presence  of  my 
father,  my  brother,  and  pastors  of  the  charge.  Soon  the 
hour  of  service  arrived,  for  me  too  soon,  when  the  church 
was  crowded  to  see  and  hear  what  the  young  man  had  to 
say.  This  was  the  time,  if  ever  in  my  life,  that  I  trusted  in 


TRIAL     SERMON  19 

Christ  for  strength  to  bear  me  successfully  through.  I  did 
not  trust  in  vain.  My  text  was  this:  "  He  that  overcometh 
shall  inherit  all  things."  My  main  divisions  were:  "What 
we  were  to  overcome;"  and  then,  "What  to  inherit."  I 
had  not  proceeded  far,  before^,  curious  assembly  and  criti- 
cising ministers  became  as  u  small  dust  in  the  balance."  I 
truly  realized  during  that  sermon,  that  I  had  overcome 
through  faith,  and  that  the  gracious  promise  belonged  to 
me.  As  I  came  down  from  the  pulpit  (for  they  were  high 
in  those  days),  I  was  met  with  congratulations,  and  I  think 
that  no  one  was  more  grateful  for  the  success  than  my 
father  when  the  suspense  was  past  and  grace  had  triumphed. 
He  felt,  as  well  he  might,  that  the  trials  and  discourage- 
ments through  which  he  had  passed  for  the  cause  of  his 
Master  in  early  life  were  now  being  rewarded  in  the  salva- 
tion and  useful  life  of  his  children;  and  as  he  was  closing 
up  his  labors  in  the  church,  they  would  continue  to  honor 
his  name  and  bless  the  world  long  after  he  had  entered 
upon  his  reward.  The  service  of  the  quarterly  meeting 
now  ended,  I  repaired  to  my  sacred  home  in  Haverhill,  with 
fresh  resolutions  to  employ  all  my  powers  in  the  service  of 
God.  No  earthly  home  could  have  been  more  highly 
favored  than  mine  in  the  prosecution  of  such  a  work. 
Though  Mr.  Butterfield  was  gone,  two  daughters,  Ellen  and 
Eliza,  and  two  sons,  John  and  Benjamin,  still  remained  as 
members  of  the  family;  and  as  they  had  recently  united 
with  the  church,  it  was  a  "  household  of  faith,"  a  little 
Bethany,  where  the  Saviour  and  his  disciples  ever  found  a 
hearty  welcome  and  a  happy  home.  How  many  who  have 
partaken  of  their  hospitality  in  past  years,  will  heartily 
endorse  this  tribute,  and  among  them  Brother  Ferguson, 
who  passed  at  this  home  so  many  happy  hours.  I  con- 
tinued with  the  family  nearly  three  years,  and  often  live 
over  again  in  memory  those  precious  hours  passed  on  the 
bank  of  the  pleasant  Ohio.  Ellen  has  joined  the  church 
triumphant,  but  Eliza  and  the  brothers  still  live.  O  that 


20  T  HE     BATTLE     ¥  1  E  L  D     11  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

they  may  constitute  a  family  unbroken  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven! 


CHAPTER    VI. 

I  must  now  return  to  the  history  of  my  brother  James.  I 
left  him  several  pages  back,  after  his  interview  with  father, 
having  renounced  his  skepticism  and  pledged  fidelity  to 
Christ.  And  now  opens  up  for  him  new  scenes  and  new 
experiences.  It  was  all  well,  and  friendly  greetings  with 
daily  exchange  of  visits,  whilst  he  remained  true  to  their 
cause,  but  so  soon  as  it  was  known  that  he  had  forsaken 
the  fold,  and  embraced  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  persecu- 
tions began.  His  former  associates  not  only  forsook,  but 
would  even  mock  and  deride  him  whilst  passing  by  their 
dwellings,  and  even  circulate  false  and  evil  reports  as  to 
his  character  and  motives.  In  this  way  he  had  a  fine  op- 
portunity to  test  the  value  of  their  friendship  as  well  as  its 
origin;  but  none  of  these  things  moved  him,  for  a  life  of 
eight  years  under  the  gloom  of  skepticism  had  wrought  a 
perfect  cure;  and  now  that  the  final  resolve  had  been  made 
there  was  110  compromise.  The  first  opportunity,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Wesley  Rowe  and  Daniel  T.  Wainright,  he 
united  with  the  church,  and  thereby  pledged  fidelity  for 
life.  Our  connection  with  the  church  began  about  the 
same  time,  but  as  he  had  to  undo  the  influences  of  eight 
long  years  of  error,  his  first  religious  progress  was  very 
slow.  His  repentance  was  long,  deep  and  painful,  but  he 
struggled  on  until  pardon  came,  and  the  evidence  of  his 
restoration  to  the  favor  of  God.  He  now  became  a  power 
for  good,  His  long  schooling  in  unbelief  made  him  fa- 
miliar with  all  the  strongholds  and  arguments  of  infidel 
writers — so  much  so  that  he  would  meet  and  repulse  them 
at  every  turn,  then  carry  the  war  into  their  own  camp. 
Not  long  after  his  restoration,  he  began  to  officiate  in  pub- 
lic as  an  exhorter,  then  a  preacher,  and  finally  he  became 


INFIDEL     CONVERTED  21 

an  important  helper  in  the  great  work  of  revival  in  Scioto 
county,  Ohio.  In  a  short  time  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Rock  Island,  111.,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  Rock 
River  conference;  then  agent  of  the  American  Bible  soci- 
ety, and  in  this  work  he  continued  until  the  Master  called 
him  home.  His  end  was  peace.  His  widow  and  three  sons 
are  still  residing  in  Prairie  City,  111.,  all  members  of  the 
M.  E.  church. 

Bat  let  me  return  to  the  gracious  work  in  progress  on 
French  Grant  circuit.  I  have  already  referred  to  its  origin 
in  Haverhillj  and  the  results  attending.  The  next  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  in  Wheelersburg,  embracing  the  holidays, 
which  continued  nearly  six  weeks  and  seemed  to  carry 
everything  before  it;  even  infidels  who  did  not  attend  ser- 
vice were  arrested  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  houses,  and 
messengers  were  sent  out  for  Christians  to  come  and  pray 
for  them.  In  one  instance,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Power, 
who  was  a  vile  opposer  of  the  work,  about  the  hour  of  mid- 
night was  struck  under  such  conviction  that  he  was  led  to 
the  chapel,  and  I  was  sent  for,  among  others,  to  labor  with 
him;  and  we  continued  our  efforts  until  he  rose  from  the 
altar  a  converted  man.  I  still  remember  his  subsequent 
testimony.  Said  he:  "No  longer  than  last  week  I  despised 
the  very  name  of  those  Taylors;  but  now  I  love  the  very 
ground  they  walk  on."  He  continued  a  faithful  member 
of  the  church  for  more  than  thirty  years,  when,  about  the 
age  of  eighty,  his  history  was  transferred  to  heaven.  During 
this  revival  Brother  Murphy  preached  many  able  and  effec- 
tive sermons.  The  work  continued  all  through  that  year, 
and  as  meetings  were  appointed,  the  community  seemed  to 
be  waiting  and  expecting  a  gracious  ingathering.  In  one 
instance,  accompanying  Brother  Ferguson  to  one  of  his 
appointments,  we  met  a  man  on  the  way  by  the  name  of 
Strauther.  As  I  was  introduced  to  him  by  the  pastor,  after 
learning  his  spiritual  condition,  he  informed  me  that  he 
would  willingly  give  his  team  and  wagon  if  he  could  obtain 


2'Z  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

saving  grace  during  that  meeting.  I  informed  him  that  he 
could  secure  it,  if  he  was  ready  and  willing,  with  less  cost; 
that  he  could  obtain  grace  and  keep  his  team  besides.  On 
Sabbath  afternoon,  with  others  at  the  altar  of  prayer,  he  was 
soundly  converted,  and  among  other  things  which  he  said, 
he  stated  "  that  Brother  Taylor  was  right,  for  he  was  now 
saved  and  had  his  team  in  the  bargain."  This  instance 
only  shows  the  readiness  of  the  people  to  receive  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ.  At  one  of  our  services  during  the  summer, 
at  Vesuvius  Furnace,  when  the  invitation  was  given  for 
seekers  of  religion  to  come  forward,  they  came  by  crowds, 
and  there  must  have  been  at  least  one  hundred  at  the  altar 
for  prayers.  I  never  witnessed  such  a  scene  in  my  life,  for 
many  fell  over  the  seats  before  reaching  the  altar.  The 
meeting  continued  four  days  and  there  were  132  accessions 
to  the  church.  During  this  great  awakening  our  pastors 
appointed  by  the  conference  were  highly  favored  with  min- 
isterial help.  Here  was  Rev.  Daniel  Young,  an  old  and  tal- 
ented preacher  from  New  England,  Revs.  Howell,  Brewer, 
Scott,  and  my  father,  all  baptized  into  the  spirit  of  the 
work,  besides  a  host  of  lay  brethren  well  qualified  for  the 
place  assigned  them.  Among  the  latter,  I  cannot  pass  the 
name  of  Thomas  O'Neal  without  notice.  He  was  a  re- 
markable young  man,  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and 
though  he  had  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  he  was  a  power 
wherever  he  went.  All  had  confidence  in  him,  and  he  was 
ever  ready,  anxious  and  seeking  opportunities  to  lead  some 
lost  soul  to  Christ;  and  although  it  was  often  difficult  for 
him  to  converse,  yet  when  he  sang,  or  when  he  prayed,  all 
impediment  was  gone,  arid  every  one  felt  the  divine  in- 
spiration. For  many  years  he  resided  at  Ironton,  Ohio, 
with  his  brother  William  and  widowed  mother,  and  from 
this  city  he  went  to  heaven,  triumphant  to  the  last.  Blessed 
man.  In  that  community  he  still  lives  in  the  hearts  of  his 
brethren,  and  by  the  power  of  his  influence,  and  when  the 


A     SAD     HISTORY.  23 

Saviour   "  comes  to  make  up  his  jewels,"   Thomas  O'Neal 
will  be  found  among  the  most  precious. 

During  this  year  a  meeting  was  held  at  Scioto  Furnace 
with  the  same  gracious  results  which  attended  them  at 
other  appointments.  Among  the  interesting  items,  I  here 
met  a  man,  an  old  acquaintance  from  the  State  of  New  York. 
I  had  known  him  from  a  boy,  and  during  that  acquaintance 
he  had  run  through  a  very  good  farm  by  a  life  of  dissipa- 
tion. I  had  no  knowledge  of  his  removal  to  that  part  of 
Ohio  until  I  met  him  there,  and  his  surprise  upon  seeing 
me  was  as  great  as  mine.  He  seemed  to  be  overjoyed  at 
our  meeting,  and  requested  me  to  sit  down  with  him,  as  he 
had  good  news  to  tell  me.  I  gladly  complied  with  his  re- 
quest, and  he  proceeded  to  say  to  me  that  he  had  "  become 
a  new  man."  uYou  knew  me,"  said  he,  "in  Chemung,  N. 
Y.,  and  how  I  drank  up  all  I  had,  and  left  my  family  in 
poverty  and  in  want.  After  vou  left  New  York,  matters 
grew  worse  and  worse,  and  as  a  last  resort  I  concluded  to 
move  to  Ohio,  in  order  to  get  beyond  the  reach  of  my  old 
associates.  Two  years  ago  last  spring  I  came  to  this  place, 
with  hardly  a  penny  left,  determined,  now  as  I  was  in  a 
new  place,  I  would  live  a  different  life,  and  I  have  done  so. 
I  went  to  work  to  redeem  my  character,  and  the  first  op- 
portunity I  united  with  the  church  and  embraced  religion. 
I  then  joined  the  temperance  society,  and  from  that  time 
to  the  present  I  have  not  tasted  a  drop.  I  tell  you,  Mr. 
Taylor,  I  am  a  happy  man,  and  my  wife  and  children  are  a 
happy  family;  but  I  cannot  recall  my  misspent  life."  As 
he  gave  me  this  short  historv  of  the  great  change  in  his  ex- 
perience, at  times  he  was  too  full  for  utterance,  and  my 
own  heart  beat  in  unison  with  his,  for  I  knew  it  all  to  be 
true.  As  he  left  me  I  gave  him  words  of  encouragement, 
and  urged  him  never  to  falter.  This  interview  was  in  June, 
1842.  He  continued  faithful  until  the  following  November, 
when,  having  some  business  at  Lucasville,  he  found  some 
of  his  old  whisky  associates.  They  prevailed  upon  him  to 


#4  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

take  a  social  glass  with  them,  assuring  him  that  a  little 
would  do  him  no  harm,  and  succeeded.  This  was  the  crisis 
in  his  reform — this  was  the  fatal  step!!  He  started  home 
toward  night  with  a  jug  of  liquor  in  Jiis  hand,  and  the  next 
morning  he  was  found  near  the  road-side  a  stiffened  corpse. 
Thus  ended  the  earthly  history  of  Mr.  S.  Upon  this  occa- 
sion, had  he  stood  firm  he  might  have  triumphed  through 
all  the  future;  he  might  have  secured  a  name  for  fidelity 
grateful  to  surviving  friends.  But  by  this  one  indulgence, 
truly  it  may  be  said: 

"Ruin  ensues,  reproach,  and  endless  shame, 
And  one/^Ase  step  forever  blasts  his  fame." 

But  whilst  we  record  this  painful  history,  we  have  many 
things  amusing  and  inspiring,  and  there  is  no  better  oppor- 
tunity of  becoming  acquainted  with  human  nature,  and  of 
treasuring  up  stirring  facts,  than  during  the  progress  of 
such  a  gracious  work.  At  these  times,  what  there  is  in  a 
man  will  come  to  the  surface,  and  not  unfrequently  what 
has  been  hidden  for  years  will  be  made  known.  At  Frank- 
lin Furnace,  Jr.,  after  such  a  revival,  it  was  said  that  Mr.  B., 
a  desperate  sinner,  who  had  professed  conversion,  u  would 
remain  faithful  until  his  oxen  ran  away" — to  which  they 
were  accustomed, — "and  no  longer."  There  was  much  in- 
terest as  to  the  result,  especially  among  the  outsiders,  when 
the  trial-day  should  come.  He  was  loading  up  his  sled 
upon  the  hill-side  for  coal  purposes,  when  all  at  once  his 
team  started,  overturned  his  sled  and  made  for  the  road 
home.  For  some  little  time  he  stood  and  watched  their 
progress,  then  broke  out  in  song: 

"And  I  don't  feel  anything  like  getting  tired.     Hallelujah! 
For  /  hope  to  nlwut  ylory  when  tins  world's  on  fire.    Hallelujah!" 

This  event,  witnessed  by  one  of  the  prophets  who  had 
prophesied  evil  concerning  him,  was  too  good  to  keep,  and 
Mr.  B.  was  adjudged  capable  of  living  religion,  with  an 


THE     SINGER     AND     THE     INFIDEL.  25 

unruly  yoke  of  oxen.  A  short  time  since  I  was  informed 
by  a  friend  living  near  him,  that  he  is  still  true  to  his  trust. 
Among  our  previous  ministers  on  this  circuit,  I  must  not 
omit  the  names  of  Revs.  Wm.  R.  Anderson,  E.  V.  Bing, 
A.  M.  Alexander,  Brother  Longman,  James  Donahoo,  and 
McVay.  Though  these  ministers  served  us  previous  to  the 
time  embraced  in  the  above  history,  yet  their  names  and 
faithful  labors  have  not  been  forgotten.  Brother  Anderson 
was  a  fine  preacher,  an  excellent  scholar,  and  a  noble  man. 
My  first  license  to  exhort  I  received  from  him  in  1838.  Six 
years  after  this  he  was  stationed  in  Portsmouth  and  preached 
rny  father's  funeral  sermon.  Through  the  remaining  years 
of  his  ministry  his  record  was  the  same.  He  died  in  the 
vigor  of  manhood,  but  he  was  ready.  In  after  years,  Sister 
Anderson  married  Rev.  Charles  Ferguson,  my  old  friend, 
where  I  ever  find  a  welcome  home.  Rev.  E.  V.  Bing,  at 
this  date,  was  a,  fine  singer,  and  of  pleasant  address.  On 
the  circuit  there  lived  at  one  of  his  appointments  a  noted 
infidel,  but  he  was  very  fond  of  music.  Hearing  of  the 
young  minister's  reputation  as  a  singer,  he  went  out  to 
meeting.  After  preaching,  Brother  Bing  opened  the  doors 
of  the  church  with  the  usual  invitation  of  coming  forward 
and  giving  the  preacher  their  hand.  The  preacher  sang 
one  of  his  best,  when  the  skeptic  became  so  charmed  that 
he  was  the  first  to  go  forward.  The  friends  were  surprised, 
and  concluded  that  they  had  secured  a  valuable  accession 
to  their  ranks,  when  the  infidel  apologized  and  politely 
backed  out.  Rev.  A.  M.  Alexander  was  evervbody's  friend. 
He  had  a  smile  and  a  pleasant  word  for  old  and  young.  I 
never  saw  him  ruffled  in  the  least.  His  sermons  were  plain 
and  practical,  a  vein  of  good  common  sense  running  through 
them  all.  On  one  occasion  he  preached  on  the  Transfigu- 
ration, in  my  presence,  which  was  truly  a  masterly  effort. 
He  still  lives,  a  member  of  the  old  Ohio  conference,  ripe  in 
years  and  rich  in  blessings.  Brother  Longman  was  an 
Englishman,  retaining  much  of  the  English  brogue,  but  not 


2G  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

unpleasant.  He  was  a  very  good  preacher,  and  socially  a 
very  pleasant  man.  He  enjoyed  a  pleasant  jokes  and  car- 
ried with  him  a  good  degree  of  sunshine.  The  only  fault  I 
have  to  present  in  our  labors  together  is  this:  After  preach- 
ing from  "  The  Lord  God  is  a  Sun,"  etc.,  the  exhortation 
so  covered  up  the  sermon  that  it  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 
He  remained  two  years  on  French  Grant  circuit,  very  much 
beloved,  and  useful  on  the  charge.  Rev.  James  Donahoo 
was  a  plain,  solid  preacher.  Like  many  others  among  our 
pioneer  preachers,  he  possessed  great  physical  strength; 
and  in  some  instances  scoffers  and  opposers  felt  the  virtue 
of  his. muscular  arm  and  brawny  fist.  He  generally  ran  in 
advance  of  the  Saviour's  command,  inasmuch  as  he  suffered 
not  the  "right  cheek  to  be  smitten."  On  one  occasion  he 
was  attacked  on  the  road  by  a  great  bully,  sitting  in  his 
buggy.  Without  stopping  to  pull  off  his  overcoat,  one 
blow  from  his  mighty  arm  left  him  sprawling  in  the  road, 
whilst  he  passed  on,  singing  in  spirit: 

"  Sure  I  must  fight  if  I  would  win ; 
Increase  my  courage,  Lord." 

He  was  transferred  to  his  heavenly  home  many  years 
since,  and  some  of  his  children  are  now  living  near  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  Many  precious 
seasons  did  I  enjoy  with  these  faithful  men  of  God,  and 
soon  I  trust  this  history  will  be  continued  in  a  more  inter- 
esting form,  when  we  "shall  see  as  we  are  seen,  and  know 
as  we  are  known."  This  chapter  closes  up  the  labors  of 
1841-'42  on  old  French  Grant  circuit.  In  my  next  I  will . 
introduce  my  readers  to  other  interests. 


TRIBUTE    TO    &  E  V .    C.     FERGUSON.  27 


CHAPTER     VII. 

The  last  year  wound  up  gloriously,  and  at  the  coming 
conference  Rev.  A.  Murphy  was  returned  to  us  with  Rev. 
Joseph  Morris,  and  Brother  Ferguson  was  sent  to  Coal 
River  circuit,  on  the  Kanawha  district.  Before  I  part  with 
Brother  Ferguson,  as  he  was  a  kind  of  colleague  of  mine 
all  through  the  year,  I  must  give  a  parting  tribute.  He  was 
then  just  starting  out  into  the  ministerial  work,  and  thus 
his  character  as  a  preacher  was  still  before  him;  but  already 
the  signs  were  visible.  He  was  studious,  blessed  with  a 
good  memory,  and  loved  to  quote  eminent  authors.  I  think 
that  he  excelled  in  quoting  Young  and  Pollok,  and  in  his 
discourses  would  often  make  them  tell  on  his  audience.  I 
recollect  that  on  one  evening  in  the  grove,  with  a  large 
congregation,  he  preached  on  the  Coming  Judgment,  when 
he  used  Young's  description  with  wonderful  effect.  Some 
present  thought  it  had  come,  surely  enough,  and  rose  up  to 
their  feet  to  be  ready  for  orders.  His  powers  of  exhorta- 
tion at  that  date  were  of  the  first  class.  He  had  a  fine 
commanding  voice,  power  with  God  in  prayer,  and  was  filled 
with  the  spirit  of  his  mission.  He  was  an  extra  evangelist, 
and  wherever  he  labored  souls  were  saved.  He  possessed 
all  the  social  qualities  to  constitute  him  a  pleasant  associate 
and  a  true  friend.  His  companion  is  not  in  the  least  behind 
him  in  all  of  those  qualities  to  interest  and  brighten  the 
family  home.  This  conference  year  (1881),  they  are  sta- 
tioned at  Wilmington,  Ohio,  in  the  Cincinnati  conference. 
Rev.  Joseph  Morris,  his  successor,  was  also  a  true  friend. 
We  labored  together  like  brothers  during  the  year,  and  I 
found  in  him  all  the  attributes  of  a  true  counselor,  and  a 
never-failing  friend.  He  was  a  good  thinker  and  a  very 
efficient  worker,  and  when  the  year  closed,  I  felt  that  in  the 
separation  I  had  sustained  a  great  loss.  Nothing  beyond 


28  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  usual  interest  took  place  this  year  on  the  charge,  ex- 
cepting the  reaction  which  usually  attends  such  great  in- 
gatherings, and  a  few  interesting  meetings  upon  different 
points  of  the  work.  As  I  had  intended  to  close  up  my 
school  this  summer  and  enter  upon  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try, T  was  recommended  by  the  quarterly  conference  to  the 
traveling  connection,  and  received  an  appointment  with 
Rev.  John  Dillon  to  this  circuit.  I  was  now  at  home  among 
my  many  friends,  which  made  it  pleasant;  but  as  I  had  told 
the  people  about  all  I  knew,  having  been  laboring  for  the 
past  two  years  right  among  them,  I  found  the  study  to  be 
much  harder  than  it  would  have  been  among  strangers;  but 
having  a  multitude  of  praying  friends,  and  an  excellent 
colleague,  I  went  forward  and  found  my  strength  equal  to 
the  task.  Our  circuit  included  twenty-one  appointments 
besides  extras.  As  I  started  out  upon  my  work,  I  found  an 
excellent  adviser  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Daniel  Young, 
familiarly  called  "Uncle  Dan."  He  had  been  favored  with 
a  long  experience  in  New  England,  was  a  very  talented 
minister,  and  took  a  great  interest  in  my  welfare.  In  the 
list  of  advices  which  he  gave  me,  I  will  mention  a  few;  as 
they  proved  a  blessing  to  me,  they  may  be  of  service  to 
others.  First — Always  be  at  your  appointment  in  time; 
failing  in  this,  you  will  soon  lose  your  influence  with  the 
people.  Second — Be  yourself,  i.  e.,  be-  natural.  Some  young 
ministers  seem  to  think  they  must  assume  a  kind  of  preach- 
ing tone,  which  is  unnatural,  and  thereby  injure  themselves 
and  destroy  their  usefulness  during  life.  Third — Be  short. 
Never  tell  all  you  know  in  one  sermon.  Fourth — Spare 
the  Bible.  Do  not  pound  it,  for  it  is  God's  book;  in  this 
way  you  will  show  your  reverence  for  his  word,  and  your 
good  sense.  Fifth — Quit  when  you  are  done,  and  don't 
annoy  your  congregation  with  useless  repetitions.  Sixth — 
Be  kind  and  pleasant  always  to  the  children,  and  don't 
abuse  the  dogs,  lest  you  might  insult  the  owner.  Seventh — 
Beware  of  foolish  apologies,  for  they  indicate  vanity  and  a 


REMARKABLE     CONVERSION.  29 

want  of  good  taste.  I  will  add  no  more.  Let  me  say  that 
as  I  was  young  and  inexperienced,  the  counsel  of  this  aged 
minister  was  of  great  service  to  me  in  following  years.  He 
continued  his  residence  in  Scioto  county  until  his  death, 
having  attained  to  more  than  four-score  years.  He  died  at 
the  residence  of  his  son  Jesse,  near  Portsmouth,  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  faith. 

The  majority  of  our  appointments  on  this  charge  were  at 
the  furnaces,  and  having  had  several  years  of  experience  as 
clerk  at  one  of  them,  I  was  the  better  prepared  to  labor 
successfully  among  them.  At  one  of  our  furnace  homes  at 
^Etna  we  put  up  with  the  owner  and  manager,  whose  name 
was  Dempsey.  After  our  evening  service  he  said  to  me: 
"  Would  you  like  to  hear  me  read  Brother  Dillon's  last 
sermon,  preached  at  our  place?  If  you  would,  I  have  it 
here,  all  written  out,  and  I  will  read  it  to  you."  Being 
anxious  to  hear  it,  he  gave  it  to  me,  word  for  word,  as  it 
fell  from  the  lips  of  the  preacher,  as  acknowledged  after- 
ward by  Brother  Dillon  himself.  I  was  astonished  at  such 
powers  of  memory,  he  having  written  it  out  after  they  re- 
turned home.  At  Pine  Grove,  another  of  our  appointments, 
we  were  favored  with  a  thrilling  incident.  Our  presiding-  \ 
elder,  Samuel  Hamilton,  and  Wm.  R.  Anderson,  then  sta- 
tioned at  Portsmouth,  were  returning  from  quarterly  meet- 
ing. Having  left  an  appointment  to  preach  on  their  way 
out,  during  the  sermon  by  Bro.  A.  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Wood  was  struck  under  powerful  conviction.  When  he 
returned  home  he  was  in  such  distress  that  he  sent  for  the 
ministers  and  O'Neals  to  labor  with  him.  They  all  came 
speedily,  and  as  they  entered  the  room  Mr.  Wood  lay  pros- 
trate upon  the  floor,  crying  for  mercy.  They  all  prayed 
round,  occasionally  singing  an  appropriate  hymn,  until  far 
in  the  night,  when  suddenly  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  shouted 
the  praises  of  God.  As  his  friends  began  to  rejoice  with  1 
him  over  his  supposed  conversion,  he  said  to  them:  "I  am 
not  yet  converted,  but  I  am  praising  God  because  I  have 


30  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

faith  to  believe  that  he  will  convert  me"  And  surely  enough, 
true  to  his  faith,  within  a  short  time  they  all  rejoiced  to- 
gether in  the  victory  achieved.  About  two  years  from  this 
date  old  Brother  Wood  departed  in  peace  for  the  church 
triumphant.  Rev.  Hamilton  wrote  his  obituary,  and  among 
/other  things  he  said:  "I  have  witnessed  a  great  many  con- 
1  versions,  but  no  one  have  I  ever  known  to  shout  over  such 
a  small  amount  of  grace  as  Brother  Wood."  Such  stirring 
facts  as  these  are  among  the  minister's  spoils,  "  fighting  the 
good  fight  of  faith,"  and  to  him  they  are  of  more  value  than 
gold  or  silver.  And  especially  are  such  experiences  as  the 
above  of  peculiar  interest  to  the  young  minister,  in  order  to 
strengthen  his  faith,  and  assure  him  that,  though  unseen, 
there  is  a  power  with  him  upon  which  he  may  depend  when 
all  human  agencies  are  unavailing. 

During  the  labors  of  this  winter  (1844),  I  passed  through 
a  trial  well  calculated  to  confer  a  future  benefit.  We  had 
concluded  to  hold  a  week's  meeting  at  Lawrence  Furnace, 
and  on  Saturday  we  commenced  it.  After  the  usual  ser- 
vices on  the  Sabbath,  on  Monday  morning  my  colleague 
was  on  his  horse  about  to  start  for  home,  a  distance  of 
twelve  miles.  His  reasons  for  going  he  would  not  give, 
and  to  me  they  are  unknown  to  this  day.  Whether  it  was 
one  of  those  constitutional  depressions,  or  the  discouraging 
prospects  in  relation  to  a  good  work,  I  could  not  tell.  I 
plead,  I  entreated  him,  reminded  him  of  the  disappointment 
of  the  people  if  the  meeting  were  not  continued;  but  all  to 
no  purpose;  (jo  he  would.  Well,  said  I,  if  you  will  go,  I 
will  give  you  the  benefit  of  an  old  fable  before  you  start. 
"Very  well,"  said  he,  "let  me  have  it."  I  give  it  here,  in 
brief:  Two  friends,  setting  out  together  through  a  danger- 
ous wood,  mutually  agreed  that  in  case  of  an  attack  they 
would  assist  each  other.  They  had  not  proceeded  far  before 
they  saw  a  bear  making  toward  them  with  great  rage.  One 
of  them,  being  very  active,  sprang  up  into  a  tree;  the  other 
hrew  himself  flat  upon  the  ground,  having  heard  it  asserted 


f 


GREAT     VICTORY.  31 

that  a  bear  would  not  prey  upon  a  dead  carcass.  The  bear 
came  up,  and  after  smelling  of  him  for  some  time,  left  him 
and  went  on.  When  he  was  fairly  out  of  sight,  the  man 
from  the  tree  cried  out:  "Well,  my  friend,  what  said  the 
bear?  he  seemed  to  whisper  to  you  very  closely"  "Yes," 
said  the  other,  "  and  he  gave  me  this  goo(^  piece  of  advice, 
never  to  associate  with  a  wretch  who  in  the  hour  of  danger 
will  desert  his  friend."  Brother  Dillon  laughed  and  said 
"that  the  moral  was  very  pointed,  and  he  would  endeavor 
to  profit  by  it."  He  left,  and  I  remained  to  conduct  the 
meeting.  Very  seldom  during  my  labors  in  the  ministry 
have  I  felt  such  a  spirit  of  loneliness  as. at  this  time.  I 
knew  that  my  only  dependence  was  now  in  that  blessed 
Saviour  who  had  promised  help  in  time  of  need,  and  to  him 
I  looked  and  prayed  for  success  in  this  trying  hour.  The 
meeting  continued  till  Thursday  evening,  when,  upon  invi- 
tation, the  altar  was  filled  with  earnest  penitents,  and  it 
was  a  season  of  victory  and  rejoicing.  On  Friday,  and  in 
the  evening,  the  interest  was  renewed,  and  embraced  among 
the  number  the  owner  of  the  furnace,  Mr.  John  Culvertson, 
and  one  of  his  daughters.  On  Saturday,  my  colleague  hav- 
ing an  appointment  at  Center  Furnace,  within  three  miles 
of  us,  a  Brother  Brewer,  local  preacher,  went  over  to  meet 
him  and  request  that  he  should  come  at  once  and  assist  in 
the  great  work.  As  he  was  nearing  his  place  of  destination, 
he  heard  a  voice  by  the  roadside  in  a  little  thicket  of  bushes, 
as  if  some  one  was  earnestly  engaged  in  prayer.  What  was 
his  surprise  when  he  discovered  that  it  was  Brother  Dillon. 
He  was  engaged  at  this  moment  confessing  to  the  Lord 
"  how  he  had  acted  the  part  of  Jonah,  run  away  from  the 
work,  after  all  of  Brother  Taylor's  entreaties,  when  his  help 
was  needed;  how  sorry  he  was  that  he  had  done  so,  and 
that  if  the  Lord  would  forgive  him  for  this,  he  would 
never  do  so  again."  This  was  more  than  Brother  Brewer's 
impulsive  nature  could  bear,  and  he  cried  with  ringing 
response,  "Amen!  Hallelujah! "  I  need  not  attempt  to 


32  T  II  E     BATTLE     FIELD     K  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

describe  the  scene,  for  it  was  one  of  those  that  cannot  be 
described.  Truly,  there  WAS  fire  among  the  bushes,  and  yet 
they  were  not  burnt.  Whilst  the  one  shouted  relief,  the 
other  shouted  victory,  and  full  of  this  spirit  they  returned 
to  the  scene  of  interest  to  do  battle  for  God.  As  they 
entered  my  room,  there  we  had  a  second  edition  of  the 
scene  in  the  woods.  They  were  too  full  to  delay  the 
description  of  the  surprise  and  capture,  whilst  tears  and 
praises  blended  with  joy  and  rejoicing.  This  to  me  was 
history  entirely  new,  and  its  salutary  teaching  was  never 
lost.  Upon  the  return  of  the  pastor,  forty-four  had  been 
converted  and  added  to  the  church.  The  meeting  contin- 
ued over  the  Sabbath,  and  wound  up  gloriously.  In  the 
brighter  history  of  the  better  land,  I  expect  to  remember 
and  adore  the  blessed  Redeemer  for  his  saving  power 
bestowed  during  my  trial  day  at  Lawrence  Furnace  in  the 
winter  of  1844.  My  dear  Brother  Dillon  and  Brother 
Brewer  have  gone  home,  and  I  shall  soon  be  there,  but  how 
we  will  renew  the  stirring  remembrances  of  earth  when  we 
meet  in  that  land  beyond  the  river.  Brother  Culvertson, 
the  proprietor  of  the  furnace,  and  his  daughter  Mary,  long 
since  have  passed  over,  and  how  my  heart  rejoiced  when  I 
read  in  the  Advocate  thai;  their  end  was  peace. 

About  this  time  I  was  called  to  part  with  my  oldest 
child.  He  was  suddenly  attacked  with  the  croup,  and  all 
remedies  were  tried  in  vain;  and  thus  at  the  age  of  five 
years  he  went  to  live  in  that  pure  clime  where  sickness 
never  comes.  The  day  of  his  burial,  to  my  soul,  was  like  a 
summer's  eve,  and  I  was  unspeakably  happy,  knowing  that 
in  Jesus  he  had  a  home  and  unfailing  protection.  His 
little  grave  is  in  sight  of  Wheelersburg,  Ohio,  and  within  a 
few  rods  of  where  I  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  emblem  of  beauty  and  immortality  blooms 
every  summer  upon  his  grave,  and  reminds  me  of  a  sub- 
limer  land,  and  never-fading  flowers.  During  the  ensuing 
summer  I  had  a  violent  attack  of  the  bilious  fever,  and  for 


ST1RR1XG     SCENES.  33 

a  time  I  was  not  expected  to  live.  But  my  work  was  not 
yet  done.  Through  the  kind  attentions  of  rny  friends,  and 
the  blessing  of  God,  I  was  again  raised  up,  and  with 
renewed  determination,  resolved  that  all  of  my  powers 
should  be  employed  in  winning  souls  for  Christ.  The  con- 
ference year  closed  up  with  prosperity,  and  when  the  time 
came,  I  parted  from  my  colleague  with  deep  regret.  We 
had  been  united  in  love  like  David  and  Jonathan,  and  now 
we  were  to  enter  upon  other  fields  of  labor. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

This  fall  our  conference  was  held  at  Gallipolis,  and  at 
its  close  Brother  Dillon  was  continued  on  French  Grant 
circuit,  arid  I  was  appointed  to  Burlington,  above,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  with  Rev.  Moses  Milligan  in  charge,  and  Rev. 
John  Ferree  continued  as  my  presiding  elder.  Very  few 
men  secured  a  warmer  place  in  my  affections.  He  seemed 
more  like  a  father  to  me  than  a  brother,  and  during  three 
or  four  years'  acquaintance,  not  one  word  escaped  his  lips 
in  violation  of  the  spirit  of  dignity  and  ministerial  propri- 
ety. I  loved  him  on  earth,  I  shall  love  him  more  in  heaven. 
As  this  was  the  year  (1844)  of  our  presidential  election, 
political  matters  ran  high.  I  was  interviewed  in  several 
instances  as  to  my  politics,  but  invariably  answered  "  that 
I  had  not  been  sent  upon  the  work  to  canvass  presidential 
candidates,  but  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ."  This 
closed  up  the  chapter.  Had  there  been  at  that  time  as 
much  at  stake  as  at  the  present,  duty  would  have  pointed 
out  a  different  course;  but  the  great  question  of  loyalty  to 
the  Union  at  that  date  had  not  been  raised.  The  friends 
upon  this  charge  gave  me  a  warm  reception,  and  I  com- 
menced my  labors  with  opening  prospects  for  a  year  of  use- 
fulness. Old  Rome,  the  home  of  camp-meetings  for  many 
years,  was  on  this  circuit,  and  this  gave  me  a  fine  oppor- 
4 


34  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

tunity  to  improve  upon  this  text:  "  So  much  as  in  me  is,  I 
am  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  to  you  that  are  at  Rome 
also."  It  was  not  long  before  a  gracious  work  commenced 
at  what  was  called  Father  Keeny's  appointment,  and  nearly 
swept  the  neighborhood.  Such  was  the  intensity  of  inter- 
est that  no  weather  nor  discouragements  kept  the  people 
from  the  house  of  God.  Mud  and  rain  prevailed,  but 
through  thick  and  thin  they  came  in  multitudes,  pressing 
the  question,  "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?"  One  morn- 
ing, during  this  meeting,  we  witnessed  a  scene  never  to  be 
forgotten.  After  a  hard  struggle,  one  of  the  prominent 
men  of  the  place  came  out  into  divine  light.  The  mani- 
festation of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  such  that  it  filled  the 
house,  carrying  everything  before  it.  In  the  height  of  this 
influence  he  turned  to  Mr.  Rowley,  his  neighbor,  and 
exclaimed:  "  Thomas,  five  years  ago  I  was  under  convic- 
tion for  my  sins,  and  to  drown  that  conviction  I  went  to 
your  patch  and  stole  watermelons!  Will  you  forgive  me?" 
This  was  news  to  Thomas,  but  as  soon  forgiven.  He  then 
turned  towards  his  aged  mother:  "  How  often  have  I  heard 
you  pray  for  your  wicked  son  when  you  were  all  alone  and 
did  not  know  that  I  heard  you;  "  and  clasping  her  in  his 
arms  he  asked,  "  Mother,  will  you  forgive  me?"  Then 
turning  to  me — "  Brother  Taylor,  you  are  the  first  preacher 
that  ever  visited  me  and  prayed  in  my  house,  and  the  instru- 
ment in  the  hands  of  God  in  my  salvation;  God  bless  you!" 
when  from  his  warm  embrace,  I  felt  it  great  relief.  Such 
confessions  and  benedictions  as  these  were  enough  to  melt 
all  hearts.  The  interest  continued  about  six  weeks,  and 
resulted  in  giving  new  life  to  the  membership,  forty  acces- 
sions to  the  church,  and  in  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of 
worship.  An  interesting  feature  in  this  revival  was,  that 
no  one  thought  of  uniting  with  the  church  until  they  were 
converted,  and  because  of  this,  the  work  was  of  a  perma- 
nent character;  and  so  far  as  I  know,  all  remained  faithful 
during  the  year. 


F  A  T  H  E  K  '  S     I)  E  A  T  H  .  35 

Whilst  our  meeting  was  in  progress,  we  had  a  case  of 
interest  well  calculated  to  amuse,  as  well  as  present  the 
workings  of  human  nature  in  connection  with  God's  grace. 
The  daughter  of  Mrs.  Simmons  became  very  happy,  and 
went  through  the  room  praising  the  Lord,  and  saluting 
every  person  she  met.  Upon  her  return  home,  the  mother 
sharply  reproved  Elizabeth  for  her  behavior  during  the 
evening,  as  not  orderly  and  in  harmony  with  good  taste. 
Said  the  mother — who  was  a  regular  Baptist — "  I  will  be 
there  to-morrow  evening,  and  I  will  see  if  you  can't  behave 
yourself."  True  to  her  promise,  sure  enough,  she  was  there, 
looking  very  wise  and  watchful.  As  usual,  the  blessed 
Spirit  came  down  upon  the  assembly,  and  the  first  one  to 
rise  up  and  give  utterance  to  her  joy  was  Mother  Simmons. 
Through  the  house  and  over  the  benches  she  went,  prais- 
ing the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  leaving  the  daughter  com- 
pletely in  the  shade.  Accompanying  the  family  home  that 
evening,  as  we  were  all  seated  by  the  fire,  I  said  to  her: 
"  How  is  this?  You  went  to  meeting  to-night  to  watch 
over  your  daughter,  to  keep  her  straight,  and  lo!  it  needed 
some  one  to  watch  over  you."  The  facts  were  such  that 
no  logic  or  skill  on  her  part  could  relieve  the  case,  when 
after  some  little  hesitation  she  answered:  "Well,  well, 
Brother  Taylor,  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,  there  was  no  hypoc- 
risy in  that  shout."  After  this  incident  the  old  lady's  criti- 
cism was  all  exploded,  and  her  soul  filled  with  gratitude 
in  the  salvation  of  three  of  her  children.  During  such 
religious  awakenings  I  have  found  it  difficult,  in  some 
instances,  to  have  everything  move  in  accordance  with  our 
views  and  wishes,  but  it  is  better  to  bear  a  little,  for  the 
time  being;  then,  at  the  proper  time,  correct  any  impropri- 
eties that  may  have  taken  place,  by  some  kind  remark.  In 
this  way  I  have  never  failed. 

About  this  time  I  was  called  to  visit  my  father  for  the 
last  time  on  earth.  He  was  attacked  with  the  typhoid 
fever,  and  I  was  sent  for  in  order  to  comfort  him  in  his  last 


36  THE     P>  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  AV  E  I)  . 

days  and  receive  his  farewell  benediction.  Though  my 
work  was  urgent,  duty  called  me  to  honor  him  and  admin- 
ister to  his  wants  in  closing  up  a  useful  life.  I  found  him 
much  reduced,  but  his  spirit  was  joyful  and  happy.  I  con- 
tinued^with  him  for  several  days,  received  his  last  testimony 
and  counsel,  and  then  returned  to  my  charge.  His  confi- 
dence in  God  was  unshaken  to  the  last,  and  his  remains 
were  deposited  by  the  side  of  my  little  son  in  the  cemetery 
of  W^heelersburg.  He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  having 
been  a  minister  of  the  gospel  thirty-four  years. 

As  I  wish  to  be  correct  as  I  can  in  the  order  of  time,  as 
well  as  true  to  history,  I  must  here  record  a  circumstance 
of  no  ordinary  interest.  It  relates  to  a  young  man  about 
my  age,  who  embraced  religion  a  short  time  subsequent  to 
my  own  conversion,  and  was  in  fact  almost  a  bosom  friend. 
Being  of  an  ardent  temperament  like  myself,  and  very 
warm  and  zealous  in  the  cause,  and  often  together  in  relig- 
ious meetings,  there  sprang  up  an  attachment  between  us 
of  unusual  strength,  which  continued  for  some  years.  His 
temporal  interests  were  in  connection  with  the  iron  furnaces 
of  this  county,  which  his  business  talent  rendered  him  capa- 
\>\e  of  conducting  with  success.  As  I  started  for  Burling- 
ton circuit  I  was  favored  with  his  benediction  and  prayers, 
and  I  looked  forward  to  the  day  when  he  would  stand  in 
the  first  position  in  the  church.  But  now  I  learned  that 
he  was  about  transferring  his  iron  interest  to  the  purchase 
of  a  steamboat  for  the  Ohio  river.  Being  fully  acquainted 
with  the  nature  and  the  hazard  of  a  boatman's  life,  I  almost 
trembled  at  the  thought.  At  once  I  sat  down  and  wrote 
him  a  letter,  warning  him  of  the  dangers  of  such  a  step, 
and  the  probabilities  that  it  would  result  in  the  loss  of  his 
soul.  In  a  few  days  I  received  an  answer  to  my  letter, 
thanking  me  kindly  for  the  interest  manifested  for  his  wel- 
fare; at  the  same  time  assuring  me  that  he  had  weighed  the 
matter  well;  that  whilst  all  I  had  stated  as  to  its  dangers 
were  true,  that  his  religious  principles  were  settled,  his 


SAB     CATASTROPHE.  37 

habits  were  established,  and  that  he  could  live  a  "  religious 
life  on  the  water  as  well  as  on  the  land."  I  kept  the  letter 
in  my  possession  for  sometime,  awaiting  the  final  result. 
But  I  did  not  have  long  to  wait.  All  that  I  had  feared,  yea 
more,  followed  in  this  new  enterprise.  A  high  life,  embrac- 
ing ungodly  associates,  card-playing  and  dissipation,  took 
the  place  of  humility  and  devotion  to  God,  and  soon  it 
became  known  that  all  of  his  religious  tendencies  had 
departed.  In  after  years,  when  I  was  stationed  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  his  new  boat  struck  the  railroad  bridge  in  pass- 
ing through  it,  took  fire  and  burned  up,  when  the  earnings 
of  many  years  passed  away  in  an  hour.  He  prosecuted  the 
railway  company  for  damages ,  but  recovered  nothing.  After 
other  reverses,  having  been  placed  in  charge  as  captain  of 
a  new  boat,  on  his  way  south,  the  boiler  exploded,  blew 
him,  with  many  others,  up  into  the  air,  and  not  a  single 
vestige  of  his  person  could  ever  be  found.  Thus  ends  the 
history  of  my  once  much  esteemed,  noble-hearted  and 
beloved  friend.  When  I  take  into  account  the  great  con- 
trast between  his  promising  youth,  his  hopeful  prospects, 
and  his  pledge  of  fidelity  to  duty,  with  his  after  failure  and 
unfortunate  end,  how  am  I  reminded  of  the  language  of  St. 
Paul:  "  They  that  will  be  rich,  fall  into  temptation  and  a 
snare,  and  into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown 
men  in  destruction  and  perdition."  Had  he  been  satisfied 
in  doing  well,  his  name  might  have  remained  among  the 
first-born  sons  of  light;  his  memory  might  have  left  a 
sweet  fragrance  to  surviving  friends,  and  his  influence  for 
good  salutary  in  coming  years;  but  ambitious  to  launch  out 
into  the  deep  of  uncertainty,  his  fall  was  as  great  as  his 
anticipations  had  been  glorious.  Let  all  ambitious  youth 
who  read  this  short  sketch  of  his  life  beware  of  such  a 
history  and  such  an  end. 

During  the  holidays  Brother  Milligan  and  myself  held  a 
series  of  meetings  in  Rome  chapel,  with  much  interest  and 
success.  Among  the  number  brought  into  the  church  was 


38  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

a  youth  whose  parents  lived  in  the  vicinity,  and  were  old 
members  of  the  church.  When  we  took  his  name,  and 
looked  upon  his  youthful  countenance,  we  were  little  aware 
of  the  historic  page  just  opening.  Had  some  one  said  to 
me,  "  That  youth  of  fourteen  will  stand  up  in  future  years 
as  a  faithful  herald  of  the  Cross,"  I  could  hardly  have  en- 
dorsed the  prophesy;  and  yet  it  has  now  become  actual 
history.  I  was  then  a  young  man,  and  this  young  convert 
but  a  mere  boy;  but  I  have  lived  to  see  Rev.  J.  W.  "Wake- 
field  not  only  rise  to  manhood,  but  to  embrace  a  ministerial 
history  of  twenty-three  years.  This  was  the  mere  boy  who 
said  to  us  at  that  meeting  in  1845,  by  coming  forward: 
"Here  am  I,  an  offering  unto  the  Lord,  for  time  and  eter- 
nity." It  is  my  ardent  wish  and  earnest  prayer  that  if  I 
contributed  in  the  least  as  his  pastor  to  raise  him  to  his 
high  and  holy  position  which  he  now  occupies,  that  he  may 
represent  the  interests  of  his  divine  Master  more  success- 
fully than  I  have  done.  The  inviting  fields  of  usefulness 
are  still  before  him.  In  the  very  prime  of  life,  with  a 
strong  physical  frame,  and  a  heart  purified  by  divine  grace, 
he  has  many  victories  yet  to  gain,  and  many  souls  yet  to 
win.  May  the  blessed  Saviour  who  called  him  to  labor,  be 
privileged  to  crown  him  with  eternal  honor. 

In  entering  upon  a  new  field  of  labor,  the  itinerant  min- 
ister has  a  double  benefit,  not  only  that  of  making  new  his- 
tory for  himself,  but  in  gathering  up  many  interesting  items 
from  his  predecessor  and  adding  them  to  his  own.  How 
often  have  I  been  interested,  yea,  benefited,  by  ttie  relation 
of  some  thrilling  incident  in  the  labors  of  the  pastor  the 
year  previous.  And  this  is  one  of  the  secrets  of  the  grand 
success  attending  the  Methodist  ministry.  Moving  among 
the  people,  and  reaching  all  the  people,  he  is  benefited,  not 
only  by  his  own  personal  influence,  but  in  addition  to  this, 
he  is  enabled  to  collect  together  those  practical  facts  that, 
when  needed,  he  can  bring  out  of  his  treasury  things  new 
and  old,  and  thereby  give  to  "saint  and  sinner  each  a  por- 


AN     INTERESTING     EXPERIMENT.  39 

tion  in  due  season."  Logic  is  good  in  its  place;  I  mean 
logic  in  theory;  but  there  is  none  so  telling,  so  salutary 
upon  an  audience,  as  the  logic  of  facts.  Whether  this  salu- 
tary influence  attended  the  one  I  am  about  to  relate,  I  am 
not  positive,  but  I  am  sure  it  was  so  intended.  One  of  my 
predecessors  upon  this  charge  was  Elijah  Fields,  so  well 
known  throughout  the  state  of  Ohio.  It  appears  that  at  one  ^1 
of  his  putting-up  places,  the  lady  of  the  house  was  not  | 
famed  for  neatness,  and  he  being  careful  in  this  respect, 
concluded  that  he  would  try  an  experiment.  So,  upon  his 
first  visit  to  that  appointment,  he  called  at  the  house,  was 
welcomed  by  the  good  sister,  requested  to  put  up  his  horse 
and  make  himself  at  home.  This  being  done,  he  took  a 
seat  in  the  sitting-room  whilst  the  main  work  was  going  on 
in  the  kitchen.  Discovering  that  his  was  also  the  dining- 
room,  with  its  cupboard  and  fixtures,  he  went  to  work  tak- 
ing out  the  dishes.  Having  prepared  water  and  pounded 
brick  for  the  occasion,  he  began  scouring  the  cupboard,  its 
knives  and  forks,  and  upon  a  cleaning-up  generally.  About 
this  time  Sister ,  having  heard  the  friction  of  the  ma- 
chinery going  on,  came  into  his  room,  and  to  her  surprise, 
the  transforming  process  was  in  full  blast.  "Why,  Brother 
Fields,  what  in  the  world  are  you  doing?"  He  pleasantly 
answered:  "I  saw,  sister,  that  you  had  so  much  work  on 
your  hands  that  I  concluded  to  turn  in  and  help  you."  He 
continued  until  his  task  was  finished;  dinner  was  prepared,  - 
the  husband  returned  from  his  work,  the  sermon  was 
preached,  and  then  he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  Whether 
this  lesson  had  the  desired  effect  whilst  he  remained  with 
them  I  am  unable  to  say;  but  certain  I  am  that  during  my 
stay  with  them  there  was  still  room  for  improvement,  and 
another  visit  from  Brother  Fields  would  not  have  been  out 
of  place.  Elijah  Fields  was  a  noble  man.  He  served  the 
church  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  forty-two  years  in  the 
Ohio  conference;  died  Oct.  1,  1878,  in  St.  Paris,  and  there 
he  is  buried.  "  He  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his  works  fol- 
low him." 


f 


40  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

In  my  last  chapter  I  furnished  my  readers  with  a  practi- 
cal proof  of  obedience  to  this  scriptural  command:  "Dili- 
gent in  business,"  even  to  culinary  interests;  and  now  I  will 
add  to  the  history  of  Burlington  circuit  some  additional 
items.  At  one  of  the  appointments  of  my  predecessor  the 
society  had  not  prospered  for  years.  Means  had  been  em- 
ployed from  time  to  time  to  remedy  the  difficulty,  but  all  to 
no  purpose.  Quarrels,  contentions  and  old  grudges,  with 
hatred,  was  about  all  the  religious  capital  of  which  the 
members  could  boast.  The  pastor  was  not  the  man  to  be 
content  with  such  a  state  of  things,  so  at  the  close  of  the 
sermon  he  remarked  that  he  was  about  to  invert  the  usual 
order  of  things.  "In  opening  the  doors  of  the  church  it 
was  customary  to  invite  persons  to  come  in,  but  he  was  now 
about  to  ask  them  to  go  out"  So  he  gave  them  the  oppor- 
tunity, and  about  sixteen  left  at  once.  This  process 
ended,  "  Now,"  said  the  minister,  "  all  of  you  present  that 
will  determine  to  serve  Godfaithfully  and  cease  forever 
your  old  strifes  and  contentions,  to  you,  and  to  you  only,  I 
will  open  the  doors  of  the  church-  and  invite  you  to  come 
in."  Quite  a  large  number  came  forward,  a  new  class  was 
organized  upon  the  ruins  of  the  old  one;  some  of  the  old 
offenders  became  ashamed  of  themselves  and  united  also, 
and  the  society  enjoyed  peace  and  prosperity.  Whether 
this  would  stand  the  test  of  legal  criticism  may  be  doubted, 
but  for  skill  and  real  strategy  in  managing  such  a  difficulty 
it  was  &  masterly  stroke,  and  the  final  result  honored  its  ap- 
proval. At  this  date,  even  in  Ohio,  we  had  but  few  chapels, 
and  many  of  our  appointments  were  at  school-houses  and 
private  dwellings.  At  one  of  the  last,  the  pastor  referred 
to  above  had  an  appointment  to  preach  at  10J-  o'clock  A.  M.. 
when  the  porch  also  was  filled  with  interested  hearers, 


A  LL-COXQUERIX  G     MOTTO.  41 

Our  minister  could  not  bear  the  least  disturbance,  it  would 
totally  disconcert  him;  so  about  the  time  he  started  out  in 
his  sermon,  an  old  lien  having  a  nest  in  the  porch  above, 
came  to  the  front,  asserting  her  rights,  cackling  at  the  top 
of  her  voice.  The  minister,  at  the  risk  of  eggs  for  dinner, 
bade  Mr.  S.,  the  proprietor  of  the  house.  "  to  drive  away 
that  old  hen"  The  mandate  was  instantly  obeyed,  when 
Mr.  S.  returned  and  took  his  seat;  and  about  the  same  time 
returned  the  old  hen.  Louder  and  still  louder  she  cackled, 
when  Mr.  S.  out  and  after  her  again.  This  second  scare 
he  drove  her  some  distance  away,  hoping  it  would  prove 
effectual;  when  he  returned  to  enjov  the  sermon.  Scarcely 
had  he  resumed  his  seat,  when,  lo!  here  comes  the  old  hen, 
re-enforced  by  the  old  rooster,  by  the  excitement  their 
voices  raised  to  higher  notes,  when  away  went  the  owner, 
with  raised  club,  hen  and  rooster,  who  kept  guard  at  a  dis- 
tance until  the  discourse  was  finished.  I  venture  to  assert 
that  Mr.  S.  did  not  get  very  happy  under  that  gospel 
sermon,  but  it  furnished  a  fine  opportunity  for  amusing 
history  in  our  winter  hours.  Many  a  good  laugh  have  I 
enjoyed  with  Mr.  S.  over  what  we  called  our  "  cackling 
sermon" 

Very  few  men  were  as  calm  in  affliction  as  my  predeces- 
sor. His  family  motto  was:  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee;"  and  through  all  of  his  domestic  trials,  this  was  a 
"  balm  for  every  wound  and  a  cordial  for  every  fear."  In 
fact,  any  show  of  feeling  in  seasons  of  distress,  as  in  the  loss 
of  earthly  friends,  was  regarded  by  him  as  wanting  in  resig- 
nation to  the  divine  will.  In  the  family  was  a  favorite  son, 
some  five  years  old,  the  father's  pet,  and  when  he  returned 
home  from  long  rides  on  his  circuit  the  joy  of  the  meeting 
was  inexpressible.  During  an  absence  of  some  two  weeks, 
the  little  boy  sickened  and  died.  After  his  burial,  a  messen- 
ger was  sent  to  meet  him,  carry  the  tidings,  and  request  his 
return  home.  The  minister  giving  me  this  account,  and 
bearer  of  the  message,  knowing  the  father's  love  for  his  boy, 


42  THK      15  ATT  I,  E     F  I  K  L  I)     R  E  V  I  E  W  E  I)  . 

expected,  when  his  death  was  made  known,  to  witness  strong 
manifestations  of  grief.  But  instead  of  this,  he  simply  turned 
aside  his  face — gave  one  solemn  sigh — and  remarked:  "  It 
is  hard  to  part  with  little  Johnny,  but  GocVs  grace  is  suffi- 
cient" He  then  inquired  into  all  the  details  of  his  sick- 
ness and  death  as  calmly  as  a  Christian  philosopher.  Reach- 
ing the  door  of  his  dwelling,  his  beloved  companion  met 
him  with  a  sorrowful  heart,  and  as  they  entered  the  room 
he  addressed  her  thus:  "Ann,"  pointing  to  his  motto,  a  do 
you  see  that?  Johnny*  was  dear  to  us,  but  grace  will  be 
clearer  tlian  ever,  as  we  shall  now  need  it."  This  was  Chris- 
tian heroism.  We  may  talk  of  patriotism  for  our  country, 
we  may  honor  the  spirit  which  enables  the  soldier  to  march 
up  to  the  mouth  of  the  cannon  in  order  to  protect  his 
home  and  achieve  his  liberty;  but  even  such  patriotism 
must  stand  in  the  background  when  compared  to  that  mani- 
fested by.  this  herald  of  the  Cross  of  Christ. 

"  When  through  fiery  trials  thy  pathway  shall  lie, 
My  grace  all-sufficient  shall  be  thy  supply; 
For  I  will  be  with  thee  thy  troubles  to  bless, 
And  sanctify  to  thee  thy  deepest  distress" 

The  history  of  our  labors  upon  Burlington  circuit  was 
very  pleasant  and  prosperous,  winding  up  with  a  blessed 
camp-meeting  at  old  Rome,  with  a  report  of  two  hundred 
additions  to  the  church.  Permit  me  to  state,  before  taking 
leave  of  this  charge,  that  among  the  many  fields  of  labor 
to  which  I  have  been  appointed,  I  have  never  found  a  more 
cordial  and  generous-hearted  people  than  many  on  this  work. 
With  what  joy  and  gladness  I  shall  greet  them  on  the  other 
shore.  Scores  of  them  whilst  I  write  are  among  the  re- 
deemed in  heaven,  to  whom  I  ministered  in  the  years  of 
1844-45,  and  I  am  still  left  awhile  to  tell  of  saving  grace 
and  how  eternal  crowns  are  won;  but  soon  with  me  the  last 
militant  song  will  be  sung,  and  over  the  desolations  of  the 
last  enemy  I  expect  to  raise  the  notes  of  eternal  triumph. 

*I  am  not  positive  as  to  the  name,  but  the  facts  are  the  same. 


RESOLVED     TO    GO     WE  ST.  43 


CHAPTER    X. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  inasmuch  as  the  Ohio  confer- 
ence was  crowded  with  laborers,  I  was  impressed  that  it 
was  my  duty  to  go  West.  In  addition  to  this,  the  Ohio 
valley  was  not  favorable  at  that  time  to  persons  of  bilious 
temperament;  and  as  this  was  a  standing  difficulty,  I 
decided  to  emigrate  to  the  territory  of  Iowa.  However, 
before  fully  deciding  the  question — as  it  has  always  been 
my  rule  in  matters  of  importance — I  presented  the  whole 
matter  to  Him  who  has  promised  to  guide  and  in  the  path 
of  duty  to  prosper.  The  answer  to  my  petition  came  not 
only  in  power,  but  in  these  words:  "Go;  thy  youth  shall  be 
renewed  like  the  eagle's,  and  in  this  work  thou  shalt  pros- 
per." The  answer  could  not  have  been  more  convincing 
had  I  heard  these  words  from  a  human  voice,  as  they  were 
accompanied  by  the  blessed  Spirit.  From  this  hour  I  knew 
my  duty,  and  prepared  at  once  to  perform  it.  It  was  a 
trial  to  leave  the  home  where  I  was  converted,  and  the 
many  dear  friends  that  I  loved,  to  tell  of  redeeming  grace 
in  distant  lands,  and  among  strangers;  and  that,  too,  with 
the  prospect  of  small  compensation.  As  I  was  making1 
preparations  for  my  journey,  how  did  these  words  come 
home  to  rny  heart: 

"Home,  thy  joys  are  passing  lovely, 

Joys  no  stranger's  heart  can  tell ; 
Happy  home  as  I  have  proved  thee, 

Can  I  say  at  last  farewell  ? 
Can  I  leave  thee,  can  I  leave  thee, 

Far  in  distant  lands  to  dwell  ?" 

In  the  month  of  August,  1845,  I  placed  my  horse  and 
trunk  on  board  of  a  steamboat  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and 
started  for  Burlington,  Iowa.  At  that  time  we  had  no  rail- 
roads across  the  states  from  Ohio  to  the  West,  but  we  went 


44  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

down  the  river  to  the  mouth,  then  up  the  Mississippi,  via 
St.  Louis.  The  Ohio  river  being-  very  low,  we  had  a  long, 
tedious  passage,  but  I  reached  Burlington  a  few  days  pre- 
vious to  the  session  of  the  Iowa  conference.  A  camp-meet- 
ing being  in  progress  within  a  few  miles  of  the  place,  I 
repaired  to  it  at  once,  as  I  was  aware  that  it  would  afford 
me  a  fine  opportunity  for  an  introduction  to  some  of  the 
preachers*  of  the  conference.  On  Saturday  the  presiding 
elder  came,  whose  name  was  Bartholomew  Weed,  and  in 
the  division  of  Sabbath  appointments  he  assigned  me  the 
hour  of  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning-.  Being  a  total 
stranger  to  all  present,  and  having  come  a  long  distance 
with  the  intention  of  making  this  my  home,  I  felt  that  much 
depended  upon  making  a  favorable  impression  in  preaching 
my  first  sermon.  As  T  had  previously  learned  the  only  wav 
to  success,  I  applied  to  him  for  strength  who  said,  "Lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,"  and  I  was  .not  disappointed.  My 
theme  was  "The  highway  of  holiness;"  and  before  I  con- 
cluded, we  all  felt  that  our  position  was  an  elevated  one. 
At  the  close  the  presiding  elder  congratulated  me  on  my 
successful  effort,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that  it  had  its  influ- 
ence in  assigning  me  to  my  field  of  labor  the  coming  yoar. 
Brother  Weed  preached  at  eleven  an  excellent  sermon,  but 
during  the  greatest  interest  he  seemed  all  at  once  very 
much  embarrassed.  When  the  congregation  was  dismissed 
he  said  to  me  that  it  was  caused  by  the  impression  that  his 
son  had  returned  and  was  seated  before  him ;  and  this  mistake 
had  so  confused  his  mind  that  he  was  not  able  to  rise  above 
it.  This  son  had  caused  him  much  trouble.  If  I  mistake 
not,  he  was  their  only  child,  and  at  an  early  age  he  became 
an  outlaw  and  entirely  beyond  his  control.  He  had  been 
arrested  and  sent  to  prison,  but  by  some  means  made  his 
escape.  He  concealed  himself  in  a  ledge  of  rocks  and  de- 
fied the  officers  of  justice,  being  armed  with  deadly  weapons; 
but  he  was  finally  taken  and  delivered  up  to  them  by  his 
own  father.  At  this  date  he  was  totallv  ignorant  as  to  his 


VISIT     TO     OLD     ZIOX.     •  45 

fate,  and  this  increased  his  anxiety  and  suspense  in  relation 
to  his  son.  It  was  no  wonder  that  the  parent  was  embar- 
rassed under  such  a  pressure,  and  the  more  so  in  the  belief 
that  he  had  returned  home.  We  can  hardly  imagine  a  more 
severe  trial  to  an  affectionate  parent  than  one  of  this  char- 
acter. Elder  Weed  was  a  very  worthy  man  and  an  able 
minister  of  the  gospel.  He  had  left  his  own  home,  the  New 
Jersey  conference,  two  or  three  years  before,  to  face  the 
winds  and  brave  the  hardships  of  a  new  territory.  He  had 
greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  preachers  and  people  of 
this  new  country,  and  now.  at  this  conference  held  in  Bur- 
lington, he  transferred  to  his  own  home. 

The  ministers  attending  this  camp-meeting  were:  Revs* 
A.  Coleman,  E.  S.  Norris,  Joseph  and  Thomas  Kirkpatrick, 
J.  W.  Brier,  David  Crawford,  Michael  See,  and  Win.  Hurl- 
burt.  The  camp-meeting  closed  on  Tuesday,  and  the  same 
day  we  repaired  to  conference.  On  our  way,  three  of  us 
riding  on  horseback,  we  were  greeted  with  such  a  saluta- 
tion as  I  never  witnessed  before  nor  since.  The  sun  was 
shining  brightly,  without  the  appearance  of  a  cloud,  and  we 
were  engaged  in  lively  conversation,  when  a  flash  of  light- 
ning came  with  such  force  that  our  middle  man  was  very 
much  stunned.  Whether  this  strange  phenomenon  was 
ominous  of  good  or  evil  has  not  as  yet  been  revealed.  But 
I  have  no  doubt,  if  rightly  understood,  it  was  in  perfect 
harmonv  with  nature's  laws.  On  Wednesday  morning  con- 
ference convened  in  old  "  Zion,"  Bishop  Morris  presiding. 
This  church  was  the  first,  I  think,  built  in  the  territory,  and 
was  well  entitled  to  its  honorable  name.  At  this  da.te  it- 
would  have  been  an  easy  matter  "to  walk  about  Zion,  and 
to  tell  the  towers  thereof;"  but  since  that  time  it  has  been 
so  surrounded  and  hedged  in  by  other  buildings,  that  the 
circle  would  have  to  be  greatly  enlarged.  But  we  that 
were  there  "  can  tell  it  to  the  generation  following."  This 
building  was  used  for  years  by  the  legislature  of  the  terri- 
tory, as  they  had  no  other  convenient  place;  so  you  see  it 


46  T  H  Kt  B  A  TTL  E     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

was  law  through  the  week,  and  gospel  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
in  a  qualified  sense,  it  might  have  been  said,  "  Justice  and 
mercy  met  there  and  embraced."  The  conference  session 
was  a  pleasant  one,  and  it  may  be  of  interest  to  our  brethren 
of  the  present  day  to  know  the  names  of  the  men  that  com- 
posed the  original  Iowa  conference  at  this  time.  I  give 
them  from  memory,  inasmuch  as  we  have  no  minutes  from 
that  body  in  1845.  Here  is  a  list  of  the  names:  H.  W.  Reed, 
Samuel  Clark,  Joseph  Kirkpatrick,  John  Hayden,  Joel  Ar- 
lington, I.  I.  Stewart,  A.  Coleman,  Wm.  Hurlburt,  Win. 
Simpson,  J.  B.  Hardy,  Milton  Jameson,  David  Worthington, 
E.  S.  Norris,^Gr.  B.  Bowman,  L.  B.  Dennis,  U.  Ferree,  Thomas 
Kirkpatrick,  and  Moses  F.  Shinn.  Rev.  Joel  B.  Taylor,  as 
well  as  some  others,  was  not  yet  admitted  into  conference. 
As  I  depend  altogether  upon  my  memory,  having  no  memo- 
randa, I  may  have  omitted  some  name.  This  was  the  little 
host  who  represented  the  interests  of  the  M.  E.  church  during 
that  fall  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Rev.  Joseph  Kirkpatrick 
having  transferred  to  the  Rock  River  conference  at  this  ses- 
sion, reduced  the  number  to  about  sixteen.  There  were 
about  twenty-five  received  on  trial  at  this  time,  and  all  that 
remain  of  them  in  Iowa,  to  my  knowledge,  in  1881  (includ- 
ing the  writer),  are  John  Harris  and  Michael  See,  members  of 
the  Iowa  conference.  Rev.  J.  W.  Brier  is  still  living,  some- 
where in  California.  This  is  what  time  does  in  sifting, 
testing,  and  disposing  of  its  laborers,  and  in  a  few  more  years 
that  little  company  of  about  forty-five  who  went  out  from 
Burlington  into  different  fields  of  labor  to  do  work  for  God 
will  be  sharing  the  rewards  of  that  toil,  where  tempests, 
will  not  drive,  and  where  sickness  will  not  blast.  But  as  1 
have  rather  transcended  the  bounds  of  the  historian  by 
looking  into  the  future,  I  will  return  to  the  conference  still 
in  session.  Among  our  visiting  brethren  was  Richard  Haney 
and  Rev.  Tippett.  Brother  Haney  preached  a  very  inter- 
esting sermon  from  "  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory  save  in 
the  cross  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  The  outlines  were 


A  P  P  O  I  X  T  M  E  N  T     TO     M  T  .     PLEASANT.  47 

about  as  follows:  "  If  any  man,  St.  Paul  might  have  gloried: 
1.  In  his  intellectual  attainments.  2.  In  his  knowledge  and 
conformity  to  the  Jewish  law.  3.  In  his  spiritual  gifts.  4. 
In  his  citizenship.  5.  In  the  abundance  of  revelations. 
But  he  gloried  in  the  cross  of  Christ.  When  speaking  of  his 
citizenship,  he  stated  that  one  reason  why  he  cautioned  his 
son  Timothy  not  to  forget  his  cloak,  left  at  Troas,  was,  that 
it  was  the  token  of  his  citizenship"  I  thought  then,  and  still 
think,  that  the  statement  was  more  beautiful  than  true.  I 
should  sooner  suspect  the  "parchments"  which  he  empha- 
sized than  the  u  cloak."  The  Sabbath  of  the  session  is  now 
past,  business  is  now  finished,  the  last  prayer  is  offered  up, 
and  here  we  are  sitting  to  hear  the  reading  of  our  appoint- 
ments. What  an  interest  and  suspense  hang  upon  a  few 
minutes'  reading.  It  was  so  then, .but  in  this  age  of  progress 
most. every  one  knows  his  field  of  labor  before  they  are  read. 
Perhaps  this  is  best,  but  it  takes  away  all  the  luxury  of  the 
surprise.  In  the  division  of  labor  for  this  year  I  was  ap- 
pointed to  Mt.  Pleasant  circuit,  with  Wm.  Simpson  in  charge. 
He  had  served  the  church  on  this  circuit  the  previous  year, 
and  now  we  unite  our  strength  for  the  year  to  come.  As  I 
came  within  about  five  miles  of  the  village,  I  ascended  a 
little  bluff,  so  .common  on  the  prairies,  and  here  in  full 
view  was  the  flourishing  town  arid  surrounding  country.  I 
stopped  my  horse  in  order  to  take  a  brief  survey,  and  enter 
upon  a  few  minutes'  reflection  like  this:  "Before  me  lies 
the  beautiful  country  over  which  I  am  to  travel  the  coining 
year,  and  there  live  the  souls  that  I  am  sent  to  benefit.  The 
character  which  I  am  to  make  in  this  new  country  will  last 
whilst  history  has  a  page  and  Christ  has  a  church."  Then  I 
asked  my  divine  Master  for  &  pledge  to  my  success,  when  it 
came  in  the  freedom  &ndfull?iess  of  his  love.  I  was  com- 
pletely melted  down  into  tenderness  and  filled  with  grateful 
joy  in  the  assurance  that  my  labors  would  be  blessed  of  the 
Lord.  With  this  divine  assurance  I  made  my  way  to  Mt. 
Pleasant,  where  I  met  with  a  warm  reception  from  the 


48  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     K  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

brethren  who  had  been  anxiously  looking  for  my  arrival, 
and  was  now  ready  to  minister  to  them  in  things  pertaining 
to  the  spiritual  life. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

My  arrival  in  Mt.  Pleasant  was  on  the  Sabbath.  I  listened 
to  a  very  good  sermon  in  the  morning  from  a  Baptist  min- 
ister, who  announced  my  appointment,  when  at  three  P.  M. 
1  stood  before  the  audience  to  deliver  my  first  message.  I 
selected  for  my  scripture:  "Then  were  the  disciples  glad 
when  they  saw  the  Lord."  The  manifestation  of  the  Spirit 
was  such  that  all  present  felt  its  power,  and  Rev;  A.  J. 
Heustis,  the  president  of  the  college,  became  so  happy  that 
he  praised  God  aloud.  I  think  it  quite  important  in  our 
introduction  to  a  new  charge,  especially  a  stranger,  to  make 
a  good  impression  in  our  first  sermon,  but  if  I  had  any 
xiKjur-xfirks  I  would  rather  reserve  them  for  future  use;  for 
in  ministerial  progress  it  is  much  easier  to  begin  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill  arid  climb  upward,  than  to  commence  at  its  sum- 
^mit  and  incline  downward.  I  have  known  a  few  such  cases 
•  in  my  ministerial  history,  and  in  one  the  preacher  was  never 
able  to  conquer  the  reaction.  This  sermon  was  preached  at 
camp-meeting,  where  the  religious  interest  was  high,  and 
of  course  he  must  give  them  his  best.  The  people  were  so 
delighted  with  the  sermon  that  they  requested  the  presid- 
ing elder  to  have  him  sent  to  their  circuit.  Being  on  the 
way  to  conference,  the  request  was  honored,  and  he  was 
appointed  their  pastor.  But,  oh  what  a  difference  between 
his  sermons  now  and  at  camp-meeting!  There  is  no  resem- 
blance. They  are  disappointed,  and  he  is  mortified,  and  at 
the  end  of  six  months,  by  request  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference, he  was  removed,  paying  him  in  full  for  the  year. 
And  thus  I  would  say  to  my  younger  brethren  in  the  work: 
"Beware  of  sugar-sticks,  unless  you  know  just  where  our 
people  need  sweetening." 


WESTERN     CITIES.  40 

Mount  Pleasant,  my  home  for  this  year,  was  a  pleasant 
village  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  inhabitants.  It  was 
here  that  the  Iowa  seminary,  as  it  was  then  called,  was 
located,  with  Rev.  A.  J.  Huestis  as  principal,  which  has 
since  grown  up  into  the  "  Iowa  Wesleyan  university," 
and  bids  fair  to  stand  eventually  alongside  of-  the  first 
institutions  of  learning.  From  a  small  village  the  place 
has  continued  to  prosper  until  it  has  reached  a  popula- 
tion of  about  six  thousand,  and  still  looks  forward  to  a 
brighter  future.  A  large  proportion  of  the  citizens  of  Mt. 
Pleasant  being  recently  from  Ohio,  I  felt  much  at  home 
among  them.  Brother  Simpson,  my  colleague,  gave  me  a 
warm  reception  and  adopted  me  as  a  fellow-laborer  into  his 
family  during  the  year.  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  six  feet 
and  two  inches  in  height,  of  a  warm,  impulsive  nature,  and 
a  fast,  unfailing  friend.  In  his  early  days  he  enjoyed  no 
advantages  for  an  education,  but  had  learned  to  read  and 
write  in  connection  with  'his  preparation  for  the  ministry. 
By  dint  of  close  application  to  study,  and  an  intelligent 
companion  to  assist  him,  at  this  date  he  managed  the  En- 
glish language  very  well,  and  was  acceptable  and  useful  on 
this  charge.  In  the  early  part  of  this  year  the  principal  of  v 
the  institution  of  learning  and  myself  entered  into  an  ar-  f 
rangement  which  I  could  commend  to  all  others  occupying 
a  similar  position.  We  agreed  through  the  year  to  criticise 
each  other  after  our  pulpit  efforts,  for  our  mutual  benefit. 
If  either  erred  in  pronunciation,  or  in  doctrine,  at  our  first 
interview  we  agreed  to  call  it  up  and  correct  it;  and  thus 
we  continued  our  friendly  criticisms  through  the  year, 
greatly  to  our  advantage.  In  no  one  year  of  mv  ministerial 
labors  have  I  received  so  much  benefit  in  correct  pronunci- 
ation as  this,  growing  out  of  our  mutual  aid  society. 

The  first  week  after  my  arrival  was  taken  up  in  visiting 
the  friends,  and  in  adopting  plans  for  the  year;  but  as  Sat- 
urday arrived,  I  mounted  my  horse  and  started  for  my  work 
on  the  Sabbath.  I  was  informed  that  it  was  fifteen  miles 


\ 


50        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

to  my  place  of  destination,  and  that  my  way  was  through 
"Jefferson  City,"  about  eight  miles  on  my  road.  Having 
passed  over  the  eight  miles,  as  I  supposed — for  prairie  miles 
are  very  long  ones — I  began  to  inquire  about  Jefferson  City. 
"Two  miles,"  said  one;  and  hopefully  I  plodded  on.  The 
next  one  I  met,  I  repeated  the  question:  "How  far  to  Jef- 
ferson City?"  "Three-fourths  of  a  mile,  sir;"  and  on  I  went 
with  renewed  speed.  Having  measured  the  distance,  as  I 
supposed,  I  met  a  boy  on  the  road.  I  said  to  him,  "My 
boy,  how  far  is  it  to  Jefferson  City?"  He  looked  a  little 
surprised,  and  answered:  "Sir,  you  are  right  in  the  midst 
of  it."  This  was  my  first  introduction  to  a  Western  city. 
It  consisted  of  one  log-house  and  a  stable,  and  all  the  rest 
belonged  to  Shakespeare's  "baseless  fabric  of  a  vision." 
After  viewing  the  spot  where  the  city  might  have  been,  I 
proceeded  to  the  place  of  my  appointment.  I  was  favored 
with  four  earnest  hearers,  and  after  the  sermon  they  in- 
formed me  that  sickness  in  the  neighborhood  was  the  cause 
of  the  small  attendance,  and  wished  me  to  go  <it  once  and 
visit  Sister  Livermore,  the  wife  of  the  class-leader,  who  was 
very  low.  I  honored  their  request,  and  found  her  appar- 
ently very  near  home.  As  I  conversed  and  prayed  with 
her  and  the  family,  I  found  her  ready  and  waiting.  She 
seemed  to  be  on  the  very  borders  of  the  good  land.  I  have 
looked  upon  many  calm  and  happy  faces  in  sickness,  but  I 
think  I  never  saw  one  that  appeared  more  heavenly  than 
hers.  I  left,  with  the  promise  that  if  she  recovered  her 
health  in  four  weeks,  I  would  repeat  the  visit  and  put  up 
with  them  for  the  night.  As  I  left,  I  thought  how  privi- 
leged is  the  Christian.  Here  is  that  lady,  more  than  one 
thousand  miles  from  her  native  home,  with  but  little  of  this 
world,  and  yet  in  possession  of  a  treasure  which  enables  her 
to  rise  above  the  weakness  of  the  body,  bid  defiance  to 
death  itself,  and  raise  the  notes  of  victory  in  the  certain 
prospect  of  a  better  home.  What  theme  more  inspiring  to 
the  faithful  laborer  and  what  motive  more  elevating  and 


INTERESTING     HISTORY.  51 

sublime.  As  I  came  round  in  four  weeks  her  health  had 
greatly  improved,  and  I  found  her,  as  I  expected,  one  of 
those  Christian  ladies  who  had  been  blessed  with  a  good 
home,  and  favored  in  early  life  with  good  society.  During 
my  stay  I  obtained  a  short  sketch  of  her  early  life,  and  the 
circumstances  which  led  to  her  conversion.  They  are  so 
remarkable  and  interesting  that  I  am  sure  I  cannot  enter- 
tain my  readers  any  better  than  to  give  the  outlines  as  she 
gave  them  to  me. 

She  was  raised  near  Bingharnton,  in  the  state  of  New 
^ork.  Her  father's  name  was  Pease.  Being  in  good  cir- 
cumstances, and  under  no  religious  restraint,  she,  with 
others,  as  they  grew  up,  became  very  fond  of  dancing;  and 
being  a  kind  of  leader  among  the  young  people,  of  course 
she  must  be  present'  and  lead  the  way.  At  the  age  of  fifteen, 
in  company  with  a  cousin  of  the  same  age,  as  they  were 
engaged  in  making  their  dresses  for  the  Fourth  of  July,  they 
were  arrested,  both  at  the  same  time,  by  the  peculiar  sound 
in  drawing  their  thread  through  the  cloth.  Each  stitch 
seemed  to  say:  "It  is  the  last."  The  impression  was  so 
strong — and  equally  so  with  both — that  they  suspended  their 
work  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  and  retired  to  rest, 
but  not  to  sleep.  The  unseen  Messenger  divine  had  under- 
taken an  important  work,  and  all  through  the  night  his 
whisperings  seemed  to  say:  "This  is  the  way  that  leads  to 
death."  Morning  came,  but  the  work  of  preparing  for  the 
dance  was  laid  aside;  and  soon  it  was  known  through  all 
the  circle  of  their  youthful  friends  that  the  Miss  Peases 
had  decided  not  to  attend  the  coming  ball.  The  cry  of 
turning  Methodists  was  raised  and  circulated  through  the 
community;  but  they  had  settled  the  question  on  that 
memorable  night,  and  no  taunts  nor  persuasions  could  turn 
them  from  their  purpose.  The  fourth  of  July  came,  the 
ball  went  off,  but  they  did  not  attend.  But  a  new  trial  was 
to  come.  The  uncle  of  these  ladies,  chagrined  at  the  de- 
feat, determined  to  recover  lost  ground  if  possible,  and  so 


52  THE     BATTLE     F  I  E  I.  D     K  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

he  laid  his  plan  in  order  to  deceive  and  decoy  them.  The 
plan  was  this:  To  request  Miss  Fease,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  to  spend  one  or  two  weeks  at  his  house,  assisting  in 
making  up  some  garments  for  the  family,  during  which 
time  a  pleasure  party  would  be  given,  and  in  this  way  carry 
out  their  plans  with  success.  True  to  the  arrangement,  the 
whole  programme  was  faithfully  executed,  and  the  day  of 
the  select  party  was  near  at  hand.  The  morning  previous, 
however,  the  cousin  alluded  to  came  over  to  spend  the  day 
with  her,  and  to  fortify  each  other  for  the  coming  trial. 
The  better  to  carry  out  their  purposes,  in  the  afternoon  they 
took  a  walk  out  into  the  grove  in  order  to  implore  divine 
aid,  and  make  the  final  resolve  what  course  to  pursue  in  the 
coming  dance.  It  was  this:  Knowing  that  they  would  be 
selected,  as  usual,  to  lead  off  on  the  morrow,  that  when  the 
fiddler  announced  that  he  was  ready,  instead  of  danc- 
ing, they  would  drop  on  their  knees  and  pray  with  all  the 
fervency  of  spirit  within  their  power,  and  depend  upon  God 
for  results.  Well,  the  day  came,  bright  and  cheerful;  the 
company  of  about  sixty  met,  and  the  hour  of  interest  had 
arrived.  As  they  had  anticipated,  they  were  the  first  ones 
led  out  upon  the  floor  to  head  the  dance.  The  eventful 
moment  had  arrived,  and,  standing  there,  awaiting  the  sig- 
nal, the  suspense  was  fearful.,  and  it  seemed,  said  Mrs.  Liver- 
more,  "  that  I  should  drop  in  my  tracks."  But  as  it  is  said 
that  "  fortune  favors  the  brave,"  more  truthfully  may  it  be 
said,  "  God  honors  the  faithful."  True  to  duty,  as  the 
fiddler  announced  that  he  was  ready,  those  two  young 
ladies  of  fifteen  bowed  in  humble  prayer.  Shall  I  record 
the  result?  The  transition  from  dancing  to  praying  was 
perfectly  overwhelming.  Within  a  few  minutes  almost 
every  person  present  was  bowed  before  God  in  the  attitude 
of  prayer.  The  two  young  ladies  were  instantly  converted; 
the  sister  of  the  proprietor  of  the  house,  an  old  backslider, 
was  reclaimed,  and  went  through  the  room  shouting  the 
praises  of  God.  The  fiddler  struck  the  chest  with  his  fiddle 


STATE     OP    SOCIETY     IN    THE    TERRITORY.      53 

and  broke  it  into  pieces,  and  was  soon  converted,  and  the 
prayer-meeting  lasted  through  the  night,  resulting  in  the 
salvation  of  about  sixteen  souls.  But  the  good  work  did 
not  stop  here.  It  went  on  through  the  community  for 
weeks  to  come,  and  resulted  in  the  accession  of  sixty  mem- 
bers to  the  church.  Among  the  converts  was  Mr.  Pease 
himself,  who  afterward  became  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E. 
church.  Can  the  his-tory  of  the  church  furnish  any  more 
true  and  noble  example  of  youthful  fidelity  and  heroic 
courage  than  is  here  presented  by  these  two  young  ladies 
of  fifteen?  And  oh,  what  a  precious  crown  our  divine 
Master  will  place  upon  their  heads  when  he  comes  to  make 
up  his  jewels.  This  was  the  sister  whom  I  found  so  calm 
and  so  happy,  looking  into  the  face  of  death.  Is  it  any 
wonder  that  a  Christian,  possessing  such  a  spirit,  triumph- 
ing over  the  enemy  in  the  first  conflict  in  early  life,  should 
raise  the  notes  of  victory  as  she  came  almost  in  sight  of  the 
promised  land?  These  were  some  of  the  rich  experiences 
which  I  now  began  to  gather  up  in  cultivating  Iinmanuel's 
land;  and  though  in  this  early  historv  of  my  work  in  Iowa 
I  could  not  look  for  much  in  the  shape  of  dollars,  yet  the 
riches  of  divine  grace  in  human  hearts  richly  compensated 
for  all  that  was  lacking  in  temporal  good. 

After  making  one  or  two  rounds  on  this  circuit,  and  be- 
coming acquainted  with  the  people,  I  was  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  another  fact.  It  is  thought  by  many  in  the 
older  states  that  the  first  settlers  of  a  new  country  are  a 
kind  of  uncultivated  border  ruffians,  and  that  about  any 
kind  of  preaching  will  do  for  them.  But  let  me  say,  "Be 
not  deceived."  It  is  the  last  place,  with  my  present  experi- 
ence, that  I  should  search  to  find  persons  of  this  character. 
Instead  of  this,  I  can  truthfully  say  that  I  never  labored 
among  a  more  refined,  intelligent  and  enterprising  people 
than  I  found  in  the  first  settlement  of  Iowa.  The  mistaken 
view  that  many  in  the  older  states  entertain  as  to  the  privi- 
leges and  character  of  Iowa  in  its  early  history  is  well  ex- 


54  THE   BATTLE  FIELD   REVIEWED. 

\-  pressed  by  a  Methodist  lady  in  love-feast  at  this  date: 
;  "When  we  concluded  to  leave  Ohio  for  this  new  country, 
the  thoughts  of  leaving  ray  old  meeting-house  and  class  that 
I  had  enjoyed  for  so  many  years,  and  going  to  a  place  where 
I  should  be  deprived  of  them,  I  could  hardly  endure.  But 
we  left  and  came  determined  to  run  the  risk.  When  we 
arrived  it  was  all  new,  and  our  neighbors  few.  So  we  went 
right  to  work  putting  up  our  cabin;  and  what  do  you  think! 
before  it  was  half  finished,  here  came  along  a  Methodist 
minister  and  put  up  with  us,  and  before  he  left,  preached 
for  us;  and  here  we  have  had  the  same  gospel,  the  same 
Saviour,  and  the  same  saving  grace  that  we  enjoyed  in  my 
old  home."  In  fact  it  is  this  element  of  enterprise  and  real 
worth  which  prompts  them  to  launch  out  into  the  world  in 
order  to  do  something  for  God  and  humanity,  and  the  ma- 
jority of  the  early  emigrants  to  this  territory  and  state, 
though  poor  when  they  came,  are  now  among  the  wealthiest 
of  the  land.  It  is  quite  amusing,  as  you  travel  through  the 
state,  to  witness  the  memorials  of  gradation.  On  almost 
every  farm  you  will  see  them  standing  as  follows:  Cabin, 
number  one;  improved,  number  two;  and  permanent  build- 
ing, number  three.  As  a  rule  the  crude  ones  are  not  de- 
stroyed. They  are  not  preserved  for  ornament  either,  but 
converted  into  practical  use.  The  first  is  often  used  as  a 
crib  or  a  stable,  and  the  second  for  an  agricultural  or  a  wash 
house;  and  beyond  this,  they  stand  as  living  memorials  of 
family  history;  reminding  them  how  poor  and  humble  they 
once  were,  and  now  how  comfortable  and  wealthy  they 
have  become.  There  is  another  commendable  element  in  a 
new  country — the  acknowledged  equality  of  the  people.  So 
few  there  are  who  possess  enough  to  be  proud  of,  that,  by 
common  consent,  in  aristocratic  stock,  they  ';  share  all 
things  in  common;"  and  this  spirit  prevailing,  the  social 
element  is  warm  and  friendly.  In  old  settled  communities, 
the  tendency  is  to  "caste,"  to  divide  off  into  cliques,  num- 
bering from  upper-tendom  down  to  0;  but  here  every  man 


FIRST    CHARGE     IN     IOWA.  55 

and  woman  stands  at  par,  if  their  good  sense  and  good  be- 
havior deserve  it.  The  late  Bishop  Thomson  remarked 
"•That  it  is  said  somewhere  out  West  that  they  have  an  in- 
stitution which  goes  by  the  force  of  circumstances"  Had 
the  bishop  passed  through  the  experience  of  some  of  us 
who  have  enjoyed  the  luxuries  of  a  frontier  life,  he  would 
have  found  not  one,  but  many  such  institutions;  and  it  was 
almost  marvelous  to  see,  in  the  case  of  an  emergency,  how 
soon  they  could  be  got  into  active  operation,  and  then  how 
self-adjusting  they  were.  In  the  absence  of  flour,  came  on 
the  corn-dodger;  when  Rio  ran  out,  we  had  our  crust 
coffee;  and  when  our  wells  ran  dry,  we  had  the  slough  water. 

"In  the  absence  of  chairs  we  had  puncheons  for  benches,       V 
And  bedsteads  were  made  without  varnish  or  wrenches; 
But  peaceful  we  slept,  for  angels  in  numbers 
Protected  our  dwelling  and  sweetened  our  slumbers." 

So  you  see  we  had  poets  in  those  days,  inspired  by  the 
force  of  circumstances. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

I  must  not  forget,  that  at  this  date,  Rev.  Wm.  Simpson 
and  myself  are  laboring  pleasantly  together  on  Mt.  Pleasant 
circuit,  with  Rev.  Andrew  Coleman*  for  our  presiding  elder. 
Brother  Coleman  had  been  transferred  from  the  Rock  River 
conference,  stationed  at  Burlington  the  year  previous,  and 
now  in  the  fall  of  1845  he  was  appointed  to  Burlington  dis- 
trict. He  was  a  very  devoted  minister  of  Christ,  and  in 
some  instances  preached  with  great  fervor  and  effect.  He 
was  faithful  and  unswerving  in  that  which  he  considered  to 
be  his  duty,  and  compromise  was  out  of  the  question.  He 
was  a  man  of  deep  devotion,  communed  much  with  God  in 
secret  prayer,  and  was  very  conscientious  in  reading  and 


*  Deceased,  a  few  weeks  since. — L.  T. 


56  T  H  K     1'.  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

treasuring  up  the  word  of  life.  His  sermons  and  prayers 
all  gave  evidence  that  he  had  been  with  Jesus  on  the  mount 
of  blessing  and  learned  of  him.  After  serving-  the  church 
as  an  effectual  laborer  for  nearly  half  a  centurv,  he  asked 
for  a  superannuated  relation,  and  is  still  living  at  Oskaloosa, 
Iowa,  in  a  good  old  age,  ripe  for  heaven. 

During  the  present  year  I  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Joel  Arrington,  I.  I.  Stewart,  and  L-.  B.  Dennis,  who  were 
among  the  first  members  of  Iowa  conference.  Brother  Ar- 
rington was  short  and  fleshy,  weight  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds,  round  face,  a  musical  voice,  and  a  ready 
speaker.  He  was  as  fine  a  specimen  of  "  Laugh  and  <rro\v 
fat"  as  I  ever  saw.  Always  genial  and  pleasant,  he  had  a 
little  spice  for  almost  every  occasion,  and  carried  sunshine 
wherever  he  went.  Being  stationed  at  Fort  Madison,  he 
remarked  that  he  was  glad  that  his  people  had  poor  mem- 
ories, for  he  had  but  twelve  good  sermons;  so  that  when  the 
last  was  preached  he  began  the  second  series,  and  by  so 
doing  he  gave  them  "  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon  pre- 
cept." But  his  labors  soon  closed.  He  was  called  away 
right  in  the  vigor  of  manhood  to  his  Master's  work  in  a 
purer  clime. 

Rev.  I.  I.  Stewart  has  been  transferred  also,  but  he  lived 
and  labored  many  years  after  the  death  of  Brother  Arring- 
ton. He  was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  Christian  gentleman — 
about  medium  height,  fair  complexion,  frank  and  open 
countenance,  neat  in  his  person,  and  of  cheerful  disposition. 
His  friends  were  many,  and  apparently  his  faults  were  few. 
In  preaching  he  spoke  quite  rapidly  and  smoothly,  with  a 
pleasant  voice  and  easy  gestures,  his  theology  sound  and 
sermons  good.  He  served  the  church  honorably  and  suc- 
cessfully; a  portion  of  the  time  as  presiding  elder  of  the 
district;  afterward,  as  chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  Union; 
when,  his  work  being  finished,  he  passed  away  from  earth 
supported  by  the  consolations  of  that  gospel  which  he  had 
preached  to  others.  His  remains  are  now  reposing  in  the 


SKETCHES     OF     MINISTERS.  57 

beautiful  cemetery  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  by  the  side  of  loved 
ones  who  had  passed  on  before. 

Rev.  L.  B.  Dennis  is  still  living  and  laboring  in  the  state 
of  Illinois;  and  labor  he  will,  I  think,  until  his  divine  Master 
tells  him  to  stop.  He  is  a  complete  embodiment  of  zeal 
and  perseverance.  His  appointment  to  a  charge  is  almost 
always  the  signal  of  a  blessed  revival,  for  he  seldom  fails. 
He  stands  about  six  feet  high,  straightly  built,  light  com- 
plexion, and  at  this  date  his  hair  is  perfectly  white;  walks 
with  a  quick j^rw*  step,  as  though  he  meant  business.  He 
is  a  fast  friend,  a  genial  companion,  and  a  despiser  of  mean 
things.  In  preaching  he  sometimes  reminds  me  of  a  friend 
in  the  Ohio  conference,  who  used  to  say,  in  the  warmth  of 
his  zeal  in  preaching:  "  Brethren,  I  will  leave  my  logic  at 
any  time  so  that  I  can  go  out  and  catch  a  sinner."  Brother 
Dennis  labors  for  results.  He  is  not  so  careful  about  his 
discourse  being  "planed  and  grooved"  as  he  is  that  souls 
may  be  saved;  and  having  this  end  in  view,  his  exhortations 
are  crowned  with  success.  Not  that  he  needs  the  skill  in 
sermonizing,  but  he  prefers  the  fire.  As  an  evidence  of  the 
character  of  the  man,  a  few  years  since  his  horse  was  stolen. 
He  pursued  the  thief  night  and  day,  leaving  his  aids  behind 
him,  until  he  recovered  his  horse  and  the  thief  was  secured. 
"That  Methodist  preacher,"  said  the  thief,  "would  have 
followed  me  to  perdition  in  order  to  secure  his  horse." 
May  his  days  be  many,  and  his  end  triumphant. 

Thomas  Kirkpatrick  was  another  of  those  pioneers  who 
came  to  Iowa  in  its  early  history  in  order  to  cultivate  "Im- 
manuel's  lands."  He  was  one  of  the  original  sixteen  who 
met  at  Burlington,  and  for  many  years  was  a  devoted  and 
successful  minister.  He  sat  by  my  side  when  preaching 
the  first  sermon  in  the  territory,  and  to  this  day  I  feel  like 
returning  him  thanks  for  his  encouraging  responses  to  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land.  I  am  under  the  necessity  of 
giving  a  limited  sketch,  as  we  were  not  intimately  associ- 
ated together  in  our  labors.  I  can  say  this,  however,  that 


58  THE     BATTLE     FIELD    REVIEWED. 

on  some  of  his  charges  he  was  very  successful,  and  he  has 
made  an  honorable  record  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the 
Redeemer's  cause  among  men. 

Perhaps  no  two  men  ever  labored  more  harmoniously  to- 
gether than  Brother  Simpson  and  myself.  The  season  for 
extra  efforts  came  on,  and  the  spirit  of  revival  prevailed  all 
over  the  circuit.  As  we  had  at  that  time  but  one  chapel  on 
our  work,  our  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses,  and  by 
scores  sinners  were  saved  and  added  to  the  church.  In 
(  those  days  of  simplicity  it  seemed  much  easier  for  seekers 
to  enter  into  spiritual  life  than  at  the  present  day,  for  often 
the  change  took  place  in  listening  to  the  gospel's  saving 
truths.  I  think  that  this  readiness  in  accepting  Christ  was 
owing  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  there  were  not  then  so  many 
influences  at  work  to  dissipate  the  mind  and  draw  away 
the  affections  from  God.  In  this  age  of  inventions  and 
progress  it  requires  a  vast  amount  of  labor  on  the  part  of 
the  church  to  remove  obstructions,  and  counteract  opposing 
influences,  before  we  can  put  forth  direct  efforts  with  hopes 
of  success.  And  especially  is  this  the  case  with  our  young 
men  who  are  drawn  away  into  those  haunts  of  vice.  But  at 
that  time  it  was  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  to  see  the 
altar  crowded  with  young  men,  many  of  whom  are  now 
faithful  heralds  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  At  one  of  our  ap- 
pointments we  were  much  annoyed  with  an  old  infidel  by 
the  name  of  Grimsby.  He  had  taken  great  pains  to  secure 
all  the  books  of  that  character  which  he  could  procure,  and 
professed  great  knowledge  and  skill  in  quoting  Volney, 
Payne,  and  Hume.  He  had  succeeded  in  some  of  his  attacks 
upon  our  young  and  inexperienced  preachers  previously, 
causing  them  to  give  up  that  appointment,  and  in  poison- 
ing the  minds  of  the  young  men  of  the  neighborhood. 
During  the  progress  of  our  meeting,  surely  enough,  here 
came  the  old  champion  to  the  meeting,  loaded  with  books 
and  papers,  all  ready  for  battle.  The  services  ended  for 
the  hour,  the  old  man  remained  for  dinner,  expecting  a  fine 


T  It  U  8  T  I  N  (J    I  ff    M  E  ff .  59 

Opportunity  to  demolish  the  whole  Christian  system  at  a 
blow.  It  was  not  long  before  he  squared  himself  for  my 
colleague,  and  opened  his  battery.  The  congregation, 
knowing  the  purpose  for  which  he  came,  and  having  heard 
him  again  and  again  state  that  he  could  silence  all  the 
Methodist  preachers  of  Iowa,  remained  in  the  room,  await- 
ing the  result.  Not  receiving  much  encouragement  for  an 
argument  with  Brother  Simpson,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
me.  I  first  questioned  him  as  to  his  authors — whether  he 
had  ever  read  Faber,  Watson,  Butler,  and  "  Leslie's  Short 
Method  with  the  Deist,"  and  Benjamin  Franklin's  letter  to 
Thomas  Payne  when  he  was  about  to  write  his  "Age  of 
Reason."  I  then  quoted  from  those  authors,  and  inquired 
if  he  was  familiar  with  them.  To  my  astonishment,  he  was 
as  ignorant  as  a  child.  After  leading  him  on  to  the  right 
point,  I  then  turned  upon  him,  charging  him  with  the  pre- 
sumption of  coming  to  our  religious  meeting  to  attack  the 
truths  of  Christianity,  when  he  acknowledged  that  he  was 
not  acquainted  with  the  first  evidence  upon  which  they 
were  based.  This  method  of  an  aggressive  warfare  upon 
his  skeptical  tactics  was  altogether  unexpected,  and,  the 
whole  audience  present  acquiescing  in  his  defeat,  he  gath- 
ered up  his  favorite  volumes  and  left  us  in  peaceful  pos- 
session. This  was  a  great  victory  in  view  of  its  effect  upon 
the  young  people,  and  in  its  restraining  influence  in  keep- 
ing him  at  home.  There  was  universal  joy  and  rejoicing 
among  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  over  the  result,  and 
no  one  enjoyed  it  more  than  my  colleague. 

The  winter  passed  away  pleasantly  and  profitably,  scores 
of  souls  were  converted,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  general 
awakening  all  through  the  community.  Our  last  interest 
was  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  where,  assisted  by  the 
presiding  elder,  the  work  went  on  gloriously.  I  must  here 
record  one  circumstance  which  fully  proves  that  "our  suf- 
ficiency is  of  God."  The  good  work  was  progressing  finely, 
and  souls  were  saved  at  every  service.  But  the  brethren 


60  THE     K  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

thought  that  if  the  services  of  Brother  Norris,  stationed  at 
Burlington,  could  be  procured,  wonders  would  be  ac- 
complished. Honoring  their  request,  he  was  sent  for,  and 
he  came  in  the  assurance  of  success.  His  sermon,  the  first 
evening,  was  able  and  moving,  and  all  the  audience  seemed 
to  be  affected;  but  when  the  invitation  for  seekers  was  given, 
not  a  soul  moved,  and  all  the  urging  afterward  seemed  to 
be  unavailing.  Finally,  the  meeting  came  to  a  full  stop, 
and  darkness  seemed  to  shade  all  minds.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  power  and  inspiration  of  song  that  some  hopeful 
brother  at  that  moment  struck  up  in  these  words:  "How 
tedious  and  tasteless  the  hours,"  etc.,  the  enemy  might  have 
recorded  the  victory;  but  all  uniting  in  that  beautiful  hymn, 
it  seemed  to  relieve  the  embarrassment,  and  give  us  a  show 
of  success.  I  am  aware  that  to  feign  a  victory  when  we  are 
really  whipped  does  not  secure  many  spoils,  and  yet  in  some 
instances  it  may  deceive  and  retard  the  progress  of  the 
enemy,  and  encourage  the  hopeful  to  renewed  efforts. 
Having  stood  a  kind  of  leader  of  reserved  forces  on  that 
memorable  night,  I  can  truly  say,  in  the  language  of  Na- 
poleon, "A  few  such  victories  would  have  ruined  us." 
Brother  Norris  preached  the  two  evenings  succeeding,  and 
not  a  soul  was  converted  whilst  he  remained;  but  as  soon 
as  he  left  for  home,  the  interest  revived  and  continued  as 
usual.  About  this  time  the  brethren  of  the  charge  seemed 
to  wake  up  to  the  fact  that  they  had  been  depending  upon 
man  for  success,  rather  than  upon  God,  and  the  failure  was 
legibly  written  in  results  not  to  be  misunderstood.  How 
often,  since  that  time,  have  I  benefited  by  that  item  of  his- 
tory; and  whilst  an  able  minister  in  such  a  work  is  a  great 
blessing,  we  are  to  be  careful  to  remember  that  he  /.•*  uhle 
only  through  the  blessing  of  our  divine  Lord. 

We  were  favored  at  this  time  with  a  case  of  sublime  in- 
terest, showing  the  power  of  divine  grace.  One  of  our 
young  converts,  Sanders  by  name,  with  whom,  a  few  even- 
ings previous,  the  brethren  had  labored  until  midnight  to 


THE     GREAT     CONTRAST.  61 

secure  his  conversion,  now  lies  at  the  point  of  death. 
His  attack  was  sudden  and  fatal.  When  asked,  in  his 
last  moments,  if  he  feared  to  die,  he  answered:  "How 
can  J,  when  I  see  before  me  such  a  great  light  ! "  And 
now,  having  been  just  "translated  out  of  darkness  into  the 
light  and  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  "  on  earth,  he  is  trans- 
lated from  the  church  militant  to  the  church  triumphant  in 
heaven.  Such  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel  are  not 
to  be  set  aside.  Having  given  my  readers  this  beautiful 
incident  in  the  case  of  this  young  convert,  T  will  now 
furnish  you  with  its  contrast. 

About  the  hour  of  midnight  a  messenger  arrived  at  my 
lodging,  requesting  me  to  visit  a  sick  man  about  eight  miles 
out  in  the  country.  He  wished  me  to  corne  at  once,  as  his 
case  was  a  desperate  one.  I  made  no  delay,  but  hastened 
to  his  residence  as  soon  as  possible.  He  was  one  of  my 
hearers  at  church,  and -considered  to  be  a  good  citizen,  but 
he  had  been  neglecting  the  great  salvation ;  and  now,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four,  he  was  suddenly  called  upon  to  look  death 
in  the  face.  As  I  witnessed  his  agony — more  in  mind  than 
in  body — my  heart  was  moved  within  me.  He  was  so 
honest  to  confess  his  failures  and  neglects,  that  if  I  could 
have  secured  the  cup  of  salvation  I  would  have  pressed  it 
to  his  lips.  I  presented  the  only  remedy  for  a  dying  man — 
the  promises  of  the  Saviour,  and  his  power  to  save  to  the 
uttermost  and  in  the  last  moments  of  life.  He  acknowledged 
it  all,  but  he  met  every  motive  by  saying:  "  It  is  too  late  ! 
The  time  was  when  I  could  have  found  pardon,  but  I  have 
passed  the  time,  and  now  I  have  no  hope."  I  prayed  with 
him,  and  still  urged  the  mercies  of  Christ,  but  all  to  no 
purpose.  I  left  him  with  feelings  and  impressions  never 
realized  before.  Here  he  had  lived  and  enjoyed  all  the 
means  of  grace  for  more  than  fifty  years,  convinced  of  sin 
and  his  obligations  to  God;  and  they  were  urged  upon  him 
through  all  of  those  years,  and  still  he  had  neglected  them, 
and  hoped  for  a  "more  convenient  season."  And  now, 


62  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

suddenly  called  to  an  account,  all  the  comfort  remaining  to 
him  is  the  conviction  that  "  It  is  too  late  !  "  Let  all  who 
read  this  who  are  procrastinating  their  return  to  God  profit 
by  his  sad  history. 

We  have  passed  through  some  of  the  stirring  scenes  of 
revival  interest  during  the  winter,  and  now  spring,  with  its 
sunshine  and  flowers,  has  come,  arid  the  voice,  not  of  the 
turtle  but  of  prairie-birds  is  heard  in  our  land.  One  of  the 
interesting  events  of  this  season  was  the  arrival  of  the  Rev. 
Alcinous  Young,  a  transfer  from  the  Pittsburg  conference, 
with  his  family,  who  settled  in  Mt.  Pleasant.  He  came  with 
the  intention  of  making  Iowa  his  home.  We  found  him  and 
his  family  a  valuable  accession  to  our  church,  and  his  min- 
istry was  appreciated  during  the  year.  We  shall  have  oc- 
casion to  notice  his  character  and  work  more  extensively  on 
some  future  page.  The  labors  of  the  year  wound  up  with 
a  successful  camp-meeting  on  the  circuit,  and  the  report  of 
one  hundred  accessions  to  the  M.  E.  church.  Before  taking 
leave  of  this  charge,  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  the 
brethren  and  sisters  were  of  that  class  who  were  ever  ready 
to  assist  and  encourage  their  ministers  in  every  good  work, 
and  though,  in  that  early  history,  they  had  but  little  means 
for  their  support,  yet  that  little  was  more  for  them  than 
hundreds  at  the  present  day.  Among  the  many,  I  may  men- 
tion the  names  of  Brothers  Kilpatrick,  Bird,  Rathbone, 
Rockhole,  Rogers,  Teas,  McCoy,  Snyder,  and  J.  P.  Gran- 
tham.  Brother  Grantham  went  to  Mt.  Pleasant  in  1837; 
was  county  recorder  eight  years,  clerk  of  the  district  court 
sixteen  years,  one  term  in  the  legislature,  mayor  of  the  city, 
and  county  judge,  besides  filling  many  other  offices.  In  the 
church,  he  was  honored  with  all  he  could  carry  and  exe- 
cute, and  for  the  last  twelve  years  he  has  occupied  the 
position  of  clerk  in  the  land  office  in  the  city  of  Washing- 
ton. Some  of  these  brethren  above  mentioned  are  still 
living,  whilst  others  have  passed  on  to  their  reward.  My 
salary  for  this  year's  faithful  service  was  thirty-five  dollars. 


IN     THE     RIVER CHILLS     AND     FEVER.  63 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Our  conference  for  this  year  (1846)  held  its  session  at 
Muscatine,  Bishop  Hamline  presiding.  Rev.  H.  W.  Reed 
was  elected  secretary,  and  I  was  chosen  his  assistant.  The 
bishop's  method  of  transacting  business  was  such  that  some 
of  the  members  of  the  conference  took  exceptions,  but 
they  soon  became  convinced  that  he  was  right,  and  they 
were  wrong.  Having  had  some  acquaintance  with  him  in 
Ohio,  his  presence  and  superintendence  were  quite  cheer- 
ing to  me  in  a  land  of  strangers.  He  was  not  only  a  very 
able  minister,  but  one  of  the  most  devoted  in  all  the  his- 
tory of  my  acquaintance.  I  was  present  at  Chillicothe,  Y 
Ohio,  when  for  the  first  time  he  witnessed  publicly  the  ; 
power  of  Christ  "to  save  from  all  sin,"  and  I  remember 
well  the  influence  of  that  testimony  in  the  morning  love- 
feast.  It  was  such  as  I  have  seldom  witnessed,  and  in  its 
moving  effects  seemed  to  sway  all  minds.  To  meet  such  a 
herald  as  this  at  our  conference  in  Iowa,  and  to  be  privi- 
leged to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  counsels  and  example  in 
my  youth,  was  a  great  blessing;  and  how  richly  did  I  enjoy 
it.  He  said  to  us:  "  Young  men,  think  not  that  with  a  little 
Greek  or  Latin  you  can  go  out  into  the  world  and  con- 
vert sinners.  If  you  expect  success  in  this  work,  you  must 
be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost."  Some  of  us  who  lis- 
tened to  those  moving  words,  went  out,  I  think,  from  that 
Jerusalem  "  endowed  with  power  from  on  high."  We  were 
favored  with  a  pleasant  and  profitable  session,  and  in  the 
appointments  I  was  assigned  to  Clear  Creek  mission  in 
charge,  and  Rev.  John  Jay  my  assistant. 

On  my  return  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  in  company  with  Rev.  Al- 
cinous  Young,  now  stationed  at  that  place,  we  enjoyed  a 
kind  of  episode  whilst  fording  the  Iowa  river,  more  strange 
than  edifying.  In  the  middle  of  the  stream  our  horse 


64  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

choked  down,  by  the  pressure  of  the  water,  and  having  no 
time  to  spare,  I  was  under  the  necessity  of  leaping  out  into 
three  or  four  feet  in  depth,  to  save  our  animal  from  drown- 
ing. By  the  time  I  had  relieved  the  pressure,  the  mercury 
had  gone  down  to  sober  consideration,  but  the  success  out 
of  our  perilous  position  gave  us  such  inspiration  that  I  felt 
like  saying  "None  of  these  things  move  me;"  and  when  I 
considered  that  St.  Paul  had  been  a  "day  and  a  night  in 
the  deep,"  I  felt  that  a  little  water  bath  of  this  kind  would 
only  steady  my  nerves  and  enrich  my  experience.  And  so 
I  found  it,  for  in  a  short  time  we  were  among  kind  friends 
and  seated  by  a  comfortable  fire,  where  the  perils  of  waters 
were  forgotten,  by  the  warming  influence  of  a  good  supper 
and  a  refreshing  night's  rest.  Having  learned  from  Rev. 
Wm.  Hurlburt,  who  labored  on  Clear  Creek  the  year  pre- 
vious, that  the  people  were  nearly  all  sick  with  chills  and 
fever,  I  remained  on  my  old  charge  until  the  week  follow- 
ing. T  mention  this,  it  being  the  only  instance  during  my 
ministry  in  the  state  that  I  did  not  fill  my  appointment  the 
next  Sabbath  after  I  received  it.  I  was  conscientious  in 

/  this,  knowing  that  a  charge  suffers  loss,  and  the  minister 
also,  in  being  a  long  time  reaching  his  work.  Reports  are 

:  afloat  as  to  his  ability;  some  ranging  too  high,  and  others 
too  low,  so  that  it  may  require  weeks  to  remedy  them  after 
he  reaches  his  work.  The  best  rule,  if  possible,  is  to  carry 
your  own  good  qualities  with  you,  and  appear  before  them 
in  your  own  person  at  once.  This  will  remove  the  uneasi- 
ness of  suspense,  and  the  occasion  of  any  injurious  reports 
going  before  you  in  advance.  Well,  the  week  following,  I 
left  my  former  charge  with  the  salutations  and  prayers 
which  generally  attend  separations  of  this  kind,  and  espe- 
cially so  in  the  case  of  my  colleague  and  his  companion. 
Such  had  been  the  harmony  and  attachment  between  us 
that  it  seemed  like  the  farewell  of  St.  Paul  from  his  brethren 
at  Ephesus;  but  duty  called,  and  I  started  for  my  work,  a 
distance  of  sixty  miles.  When  I  reached  it,  surely  enough, 


SHOUTING     FOR    A     WHOLE     C  A  M  P  -  M  E  E  T  1  N  G  .    65 

I  found  nearly  all  sick  with  the  ague  and  fever,  several 
families  in  some  instances  collected  together  in  one,  in 
order  that  there  might  be  well  persons  enough  to  wait  upon 
the  sick.  On  my  arrival  I  found  Brother  Jay,  my  colleague, 
at  his  post,  ready  for  duty.  Brother  Jay  had  been  raised  a 
Quaker,  but  was  now  thoroughly  converted  to  the  doctrines 
and  discipline  of  the  M.  E.  church.  He  was  one  of  those 
genial,  hopeful  spirits  that  took  every  event  for  the  best  as 
it  came,  and  always  looked  on  the  brightest  side.  If  matters 
at  times  looked  a  little  gloomy,  by  some  cheering  remark 
and  hearty  laugh  he  would  bring  sunshine  out  of  it  if  he 
could.  If  I  entered  his  room  when  he  was  shaking  with 
the  ague,  the  first  salutation  would  be  a  hearty  laugh.  To 
give  my  readers  a  more  accurate  idea  of  the  man,  at  one  of 
our  camp-meetings,  being  very  fond  of  singing,  and  anxious 
to  see  things  move,  he  entered  into  a  tent  and  began  one 
of  his  favorite  songs;  but  things  did  not  move.  He  then 
went  to  another,  and  another,  with  the  same  results.  Hav- 
ing nearly  completed  the  circle  of  tents  with  no  better 
success,  he  finally  gave  it  up  by  saying:  "Well,  well,  there 
is  no  use  of  trying  to  shout  for  a  whole  camp-meeting." 
We  arranged  our  work  and  entered  upon  its  duties 
immediately.  But  few  could  attend  worship,  but  we  served 
these  few,  when  in  about  two  weeks  I  came  down  with  the 
ague  and  fever.  Had  this  been  my  first  experience  of  the 
kind,  I  might  have  been  greatly  alarmed,  but  having  become 
familiar  with  its  onsets  in  Ohio,  I  was  very  well  qualified  to 
grapple  with  its  strong  arm.  I  soon  checked  its  progress, 
but  laboring  in  a  malarial  valley  it  soon  returned,  so  that  I 
could  say  with  General  Green,  of  the  Revolution,  whilst 
warring  in  the  South:  "I  fight,  get  beaten,  rise  and  fight 
again."  In  some  instances,  before  my  sermon  was  half 
through,  I  would  feel  the  cold  chills  crawling  up  my  back; 
then  reach  my  next  appointment  at  the  height  of  a  burning 
fever.  But  such  inspiration  did  not  furnish  "  thoughts  that 
breathed  and  words  that  burned."  But  my  appointments 


' 


66  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  AV  E  D  . 

were  out  and  I  must  fill  them.  Our  mission  extended  south 
into  Washington  county,  and  seventy-five  miles  north  to 
Montezuma,  and  the  regions  around  and  beyond. 

On  my  second  round  on  this  work  I  overtook  a  man 
whose  countenance  1  thought  I  recognized,  but  I  was  not 
positive.  I  thus  addressed  him:  "  Stranger,  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  I  have  seen  you  before."  "Perhaps  so,"  said 
he;  "where  are  you  from?"  I  answered  "From  Scioto 
county,  Ohio,  near  Hanging  Rock."  Said  he:  "  What  is 
your  name?"  J  gave  it,  and  then  I  requested  him  to  give 
me  his.  He  did  so,  and  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  my 
old  friend  and  classmate  of  former  years.  I  knewhim 
well.  Our  first  acquaintance  was  near  Hanging  Rock, 
Scioto  county,  Ohio,  a  short  time  after  I  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  We  professed  religion  about 
the  same  time,  and  often  did  we  meet  in  the  same  house  of 
worship,  and  in  the  same  class-room  unite  together  in  sing- 
ing the  songs  of  Zion  and  in  relating  our  Christian  expe- 
rience. Our  acquaintance  continued  for  some  years  in  Ohio? 
until  after  he  became  a  licensed  exhorter.  A  short  time 
after  this  he  moved  to  the  West,  but  as  to  the  place  of  his 
destination  1  was  not  informed.  But  well  do  I  recollect 
the  many  expressions  of  solicitude  for  his  welfare  in  a 
strange  land.  Several  years  had  now  passed  and  I  had 
heard  nothing  concerning  him  until  the  present  interview. 
My  heart  began  to  swell  with  warm  emotion  as  I  grasped 
his  hand,  in  the  thought  that  I  had  met  an  old  acquaintance, 
and,  as  I  supposedy  a  Christian  brother,  in  a  land  of  strangers. 
But  my  ardor  was  soon  cooled  as  I  inquired:  "  Brother 
B.,  how  do  you  prosper  in  religion?"  "  Religion!"  said  he, 
"that  is  all  nonsense;  a  delusion  of  the  brain;  mere  ani- 
mal excitement."  "  But,"  said  I,  "  did  you  not  once  profess 
.religion  and  shout  aloud  the  praises  of  God,  and  did  I  not 
hear  you  say  that  you  enjoyed  such  peace  and  happiness 
as  the  world  could  not  give?  And  was  not  that  the  hap- 
piest part  of  your  life?"  He  admitted  it  all,  but  still  per- 


FEARFUL     HISTORY     OF     A     BACKSLIDER.          67 

sisted  in  its  being  a  delusion,  using  very  profane  and 
unbecoming  language.  1  warned  him  of  his  danger.  I 
entreated  him  to  come  back  to  the  Saviour.  I  reminded 
him  of  those  days  when  he  enjoyed  such  heavenly  com- 
munion in  the  house  of  God,  and  spoke  so  confidently  of  a 
blissful  immortality  beyond  the  grave.  When  I  referred 
to  the  past  it  touched  a  tender  cord,  yet  he  made  an  effort 
to  stand  it  out.  Before  I  left  him  he  invited  me  to  visit 
his  family,  which  I  promised  to  do  in  four  weeks,  feeling 

"that  if  it  were  possible  to  do  him  any  good,  I  would  spare  no 
pains.  The  visit  I  made  according  to  promise,  and  then 
I  entreated  him  again.  I  reminded  him  of  his  family — 
his  promising  children — the  influence  he  exerted — his  wel- 
fare in  time  and  eternity;  but  he  seemed  to  turn  a  deaf  ear. 
I  bade  him  and  his  family  adieu,  and  I  never  saw  his  face 
again.  The  nearest  I  came  to  it  was  to  look  upon  his  grave 
the  day  after  he  was  buried.  Shall  I  give  an  account  of 
his  death?  My  pen  hesitates  to  write  it.  A  few  weeks 
after  my  visit  he  went  to  a  liquor  shop  about  eight  miles 
distant,  and  whilst  in  company  with  an  infidel  companion 
of  his,  together  blaspheming  the  name  of  God  and  ridicul- 
ing the  Christian  religion,  they' were  both  struck  by  light- 
ning and  sent  into  eternity  in  a  moment!  O,  what  a 
fearful  death  was  this  to  die,  with  the  words  of  bitter  pro- 
fanity upon  his  lips!  those  lips  that  a  few  years  before  had 
been  employed  in  prayer  and  praise,  but  now  forever 
sealed,  ere  the  last  curse  had  died  away  on  mortal's  ear. 
What  a  warning  is  this  to  backsliders;  and  how  does  it  speak 
to  professing  Christians  to  shun  the  company  of  the  wicked. 
A  few  weeks  after  his  arrival  in  Keokuk  county  he  handed 
in  his  letter,  and  for  a  time  met  with  the  people  of  God, 
but  by  associating  with  skeptical  men  his  mind  soon  became 
poisoned,  he  was  shorn  of  his  strength,  neglected  his  relig- 

.  ious  duties,  became  an  infidel  himself,  and  in  the  prime  of 
life  was  cut  off  without  a  moment's  warning.  Had  he  been 
faithful,  he  might  have  been  a  blessing  to  the  world  and 


68  T  H  E     B  A  T  T  L  E     F  1  K  L  D      K  E  V  I  E  W  E  D . 

an  ornament  to  the  church  —  his  earthly  sun  might  have 
set  radiant  with  the  glories  of  a  brighter  day;  but  by  for- 
saking God,  all  that  remains  is  the  record  of  his  folly  and 
his  fearful  fate. 

The  work  of  an  itinerant  is  such,  passing  regularly 
around  his  field  of  labor,  preaching  sermons  and  leading 
class,  thai  were  it  not  for  these  striking  instances  of  per- 
sonal history,  it  would  be  hard  to  collect  material  for  a 
biography;  but  favored  with  these,  and  the  many  incidents 
in  our  revival  work,  I  am  led  to  think  that  no  class  of  men 
are  so  highly  favored  with  rich  and  striking  histories  as  the 
successful  evangelist.  As  the  winter  season  came  on,  the 
health  of  the  community  improved  and  our  labors  embraced 
the  usual  interests  through  this  season  of  the  year.  I  have 
already  stated  that  our  mission  extended  north  to  what  is 
now  Montezuma,  but  then  it  was  a  city  only  in  name.  A 
little  later  a  young  brother  was  sent  to  that  circuit  which 
embraced  Montezuma,  and  in  his  revival  notice  to  the  West- 
ern Advocate,  he  stated  that  he  had  swept  the  city;  that 
every  man,  woman  and  child  had  been  converted.  We 
learned  about  this  time  that  the  city  contained  in  all  but 
seven  houses,  and  these  were  cabins,  so  that  the  taking  of 
a  city  like  this  was  not  equal  to  "  ruling  his  spirit."  After 
this  notice  my  good  Brother  Simpson  always  called  him 
"  Cortez,"  as  he  captured  the  great  Montezuma.  Nothing 
of  unusual  character  transpired  on  our  work  until  the 
return  of  the  summer,  when  we  began  to  enjoy  some  of  the 
luxuries  of  a  new  mission.  The  first  was  on  this  wise: 

A  small  colony  settled  this  year  on  English  river,  a  dis- 
tance from  us  of  about  thirty  miles.  Some  of  the  families 
being  Methodists,  they  sent  word  to  have  us  visit  them, 
and,  if  expedient,  form  a  class.  We  returned  a  favorable 
answer,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  with  horses  and 
saddle-bags,  started  for  the  new  settlement.  There  being  no 
traveled  road,  we  struck  out  into  the  open  prairie  in  the 
direction  of  our  destined  place.  It  was  a  long  and  tedious 


V  I  (!  T  O  R  V  BROUGHT  OUT  OF  DEFEAT.      00 

ride,  but  toward  evening  we  saw  signs  of  civilization  in 
reaching  a  little  grove,  and  a  few  wandering  cattle,  and  we 
took  courage.  We  arrived  at  Brother  Rodman's,  our  stop- 
ping place,  the  sun  about  an  hour  high,  tired  and  hungry. 
As  we  rode  up  to  the  door  of  the  house,  Sister  Rodman 
came  out  and  \jelcomed  us  to  their  cabin  home  with  all  the 
warmth  of  a  pioneer.  But  she  remarked:  "As  glad  as  I 
am  to  see  you,  we  haven't  a  mouthful  of  anything  to  eat  in 
the  house.  My  husband  has  gone  to  mill,  about  twenty-five 
miles  distant,  and  will  not  return  until  to-morrow.""  Rather 
hard  fare  thought  we  who  had  been  fasting  all  day;  and 
now  for  skill  and  courage  to  triumph  over  difficulties. 
"  Sister  Rodman,"  said  I,  "you  have  corn  in  the  field."  She 
answered  "  yes."  "  And  an  old  milk  pan  that  I  can  obtain?" 
"Yes;  one  lying  out  yonder  in  the  yard."  "And  cows 
near  by?"  "Yes."  "  Well,  now  for  business.  Brother 
Jay,  you  go  and  bring  the  corn.  Sister  Rodman,  send 
the  boy  after  the  cows,  and  you  hang  on  the  kettle  and 
boil  the  water,  and  we  will  have  a  feast  of  fat  things 
after  all." 

Having  secured  a  hammer  and  a  nail,  I  went  to  work  and 
made  the  mill  (grater),  and  by  the  time  that  my  colleague 
had  arrived  with  the  corn  the  mill  was  all  ready  for  grind- 
ing. Within  a  few  minutes  we  had  four  or  five,  quarts  of 
as  nice  meal  as  we  ever  saw.  The  pudding  was  soon  made, 
table  set,  and  milk  ready.  But  now  there  is  another  diffi- 
culty. Said  the  good  sister,  "  We  have  but  one  bowl  and 
one  spoon,  having  broken  our  dishes  moving  to  Iowa." 
"Never  rnind,  we  can  manage  that"  said  I.  So,  being 
preacher  in  charge,  I  ate  at  the  first  table.  Brother  J&y 
was  a  very  pleasant  and  pliable  man,  but  the  severest  test 
of  his  patience,  I  think,  during  the  year,  was  in  waiting  until 
my  bowl  was  empty;  but  the  good  time  came,  when  he  took 
his  turn  at  the  second  table.  Had  there  not  been  mush  in 
abundance,  there  might  have  been  grounds  for  fear  at  this 
point,  on  the  part  of  those  coming  after,  but  as  we  had  laid 


70  THE     B  A  T  T  T,  E     F  T  E  L  D     REVIEWED. 

in  a  good  supply,  each  one  took  his  turn  until  the  last  child 
was  satisfied,  and  some  fragments  remained.  Whether  this 
was  the  kind  of  table  in  the  "  wilderness  "  referred  to  by 
the  psalmist,  I  am  unable  to  tell;  but  one  thing  I  know, 
that  never  was  there  a  meal  of  mush  and  milk  more  heartily 
and  gratefully  enjoyed  than  this,  though  Dieted  out  in  a 
single  dish.  In  this  service  our  visit  was  attended  with  a 
double  benefit,  not  only  in  helping  ourselves  in  this  emer- 
gency, but  in  providing  ample  supplies  for  the  family.  And 
now  the  neighbors  were  called  in  to  enjoy  another  kind  of 
a  feast;  and  though  there  was  not  much  inspiration  in  a 
supper  of  milk  to  give  elasticity  to  a  sermon,  yet  the  recent 
triumph  which  we  had  just  enjoyed  was  better  by  far  than 
any  artificial  stimulants.  The  text  to  suit  this  occasion  was 
very  appropriate:  "The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  I  shall  not 
want."  Should  I  tell  you  that  we  had  an  old-fashioned 
Methodist  meeting,  I  should  be  true  to  history,  for  our  suc- 
cess in  the  unseen  was  equal  to  that  of  the  visible  and  tem- 
poral. The  next  morning  we  were  treated  with  some  fine 
corn-bread,  made  from  that  same  mill;  when,  all  being  in 
readiness,  we  started  for  home,  exulting  like  St.  Paul: 
"  Poor^  yet  making  many  rich;  having  nothing,  and  yet 
possessing  all  things."  Do  you  call  these  hardships?  and 
do  you  wish  to  be  excused  from  making  such  a  history? 
You  may  do  all  this;  but  permit  me  to  say  these  are  the 
rich  spots  in  the  history  of  my  life  that  ease  and  luxury 
could  not  purchase,  and  gold  could  not  buy;  and  T  doubt 
not,  in  the  rewards  of  the  better  land,  the  Master  will  crown 
these  with  the  richest  estimate,  and  the  highest  honor. 


Y  o  IT  N  <;   LADY'S   HEROISM.  71 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

One  of  the  greatest  interests  of  the  M.  E.  church  in  the 
United  States,  from  its  first  organization,  has  been  its  camp- 
meetings.  Thousands  who  would  not  attend  divine  service 
anywhere  else  would  go  to  these  gatherings  in  the  grove 
where  they  knew  they  would  not  be  restricted  by  walls  or 
pews.  And  though  they  were  induced  to  go  through  nov- 
elty or  curiosity,  yet,  being  placed  under  the  influence  of 
divine  truth,  they  were  arrested  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  re- 
turned home  witnessing  "  what  great  things  the  Lord  had 
done  for  them."  How  often  have  we  heard  in  our  meetings 
for  religious  testimony,  one  and  another  state  that  "at  such 
a  camp-meeting  I  was  convicted  for  my  sins,  and  sought 
and  found  the  '  pearl  of  great  price.' "  Some  of  the  brightest 
stars  in  our  church  are  witnesses  to  such  experiences.  The 
late  Bishop  Thomson  and  Dr.  Dempster  were  striking  ex- 
amples, with  scores  of  others.  And  though  they  may 
furnish  occasion  for  bad  behavior  on  the  part  of  some,  yet 
these  persons  would  not  be  doing  any  good  elsewhere;  so 
that  these  objections  weigh  but  little  in  view  of  the  great 
good  accomplished.  Toward  the  close  of  the  summer  we 
held  such  a  meeting  on  our  charge,  which  was  attended 
with  great  interest  and  success.  About  thirty  professed 
conversion,  and  the  church  was  very  much  blessed.  I  must 
record  a  circumstance  which  took  place  at  this  meeting,  for 
the  benefit  of  young  people.  A  very  amiable  young 
lady  who  had  been  accompanied  to  this  place  by  her  in- 
tended husband,  became  interested  during  the  meeting  and 
went  to  the  altar  for  prayers.  Having  learned  subsequently 
that  he  had  been  making  light  of  the  altar  services,  she  gave 
him  a  gentle  rebuke  by  permitting  him  to  return  home 
alone,  and  it  was  some  little  time  before  the  matter  was 


72  THE     BATTLE     P  I  E  T,  D     R  E  V  I  K  W  E  T)  . 

reconciled.  But  it  was  finally  adjusted,  and  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  performing  the  marriage  ceremony,  and  ulti- 
mately enjoying  their  hospitality  in  their  own  home,  both 
zealous  and  useful  members  of  the  church.  I  think  they 
are  both  living  and  faithful,  and  should  they  be  permitted 
to  read  this  they  will  know  what  I  mean,  and  appreciate 
the  history  from  their  old  pastor  and  friend.  The  firm  stand 
which  this  young  lady  maintained  in  this  conscientious 
step  taken,  raised  her  in  the  estimation  of  the  community, 
and  I  doubt  not  in  that  of  her  future  husband.  Nothing  is 
lost  in  doing  right. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  by  invitation,  I  attended  a  Ger- 
man camp-meeting  on  Dutch  creek,  within  the  bounds  of 
my  circuit.  It  was  conducted  by  Dr.  Jacoby,  the  presiding 
elder;  and  as  many  of  my  congregation  were  present,  I  was 
requested  to  take  part  in  the  exercises.  The  services 
progressed  with  interest  until  Sunday  afternoon,  when  it 
was  known  that  efforts  would  be  made  by  the  roughs  in  the 
N^vicinity  to  break  up  the  evening  meeting.  For  weeks,  not 
a  drop  of  rain  had  fallen,  and  not  a  cloud  to  be  seen  above 
the  horizon  indicating  an  approaching  shower.  But  the 
elder  knew  that  some  way  must  be  devised  to  meet  the 
emergency,  and  that  within  a  few  hours,  for  the  tokens  of 
war  had  become  already  visible.  How  many  Methodist 
ministers  know  something  of  the  suspense  between  a  good 
meeting  and  the  devil's  parade  on  Sunday  night.  This  was 
his  experience  and  his  dread;  but  he  concluded  that  the 
power  which  brought  the  cloud  out  of  the  sea  and  watered 
the  land  of  Samaria  was  sufficient  to  secure  victory  to  him  in 
this  season  of  trial.  Being  thus  assured,  he  resorted  to 
earnest  prayer;  beseeching  God  that  he  would  send  the 
rain  in  such  quantities  that  his  enemies  might  be  defeated 
and  his  small  church  enjoy  the  benefit.  Not  a  sign  in  the 
heavens  was  visible  until  about  six  o'clock  p.  M.,  when  at  a 
distance  the  lightning  was  seen,  the  distant  thunder  was 
heard;  the  storm  approached  nearer  and  nearer,  when, 


D  R  .     JACOBY'S     PRAYER     AXSWEREP.  7  A 

shortly  after  the  lamps  were  lighted,  the  shower  came,  and 
with  it  all  of  the  gracious  results  asked  for.  I  am  reminded 
to  this  day  of  the  inward  satisfaction  expressed  by 
Brother  Jacoby  as  the  rowdies  ran  from  tree  to  tree  to  find 
shelter,  saying:  "  Don't  you  see  them  run?"  And  run  they 
did,  many  of  them  until  they  reached  home.  The  rain 
continued  pouring  until  every  tent  was  soaked  and  the 
camp-ground  literally  flooded  with  water.  The  young 
Arabs  who  had  come  out  to  disturb  Israel  were  discomfited, 
and  the  surrounding  country  blessed  with  refreshing.  The 
only  reflection  in  this  case  was  the  quantity  of  rain  which 
fell,  amounting  to  a  flood,  even  surpassing  the  expectations 
of  the  petitioner  himself,  furnishing  additional  material  for 
the  old  lady  who  remarked  "  that  rain  was  a  very  good 
thing,  but  these  Methodists  are  always  overdoing  matters." 
I  remained  some  two  months  on  that  mission  after  this 
event,  laboring  with  the  people;  but  the  truth  remained  on 
their  hearts,  and  with  those  who  are  living  to  this  day,  that 
that  storm  was  sent  of  God  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of 
Elder  Jacoby.  Farewell,  ye  old  veteran!  You  have  now 
reached  a  land  where  enemies  and  storms  cannot  annoy — 
the  home  of  that  God  who  then  protected  you  and  who 
will  be  your  portion  forever.  We  have  now  reached  a 
period  in  the  history  of  this  year's  labors  when  we  must  bid 
adieu  to  Clear  Creek  mission  with  its  many  friends  and 
stirring  incidents,  and  repair  to  our  conference,  but  not 
until  I  say  that  my  salary  for  this  year's  labor  was  fifty 
dollars. 


74  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Our  animal  conference  for  this  fall  (1847)  was  held  at 
Mt.  Pleasant,  my  former  home.  Bishop  Waugh  was  with 
us,  and  by  his  fatherly  counsels  and  genial  spirit  endeared 
himself  to  all  of  its  members.  Rev.  H.  W.  Reed  was 
elected  secretary  and  I  was  chosen  as  his  assistant.  We 
had  a  very  pleasant  and  profitable  session;  and  especially 
so  to  me,  as  I  was  among  my  old  friends.  This  was  our 
first  introduction  to  James  W.  Harlan,  who  had  recently 
graduated  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  came  to  Iowa  with 
the  intention  of  making  this  his  final  home.  His  history  is 
so  well-known  in  the  state,  as  a  public  man,  that  it  will  be 
unnecessary  to  extend  it.  On  the  Sabbath  the  bishop 
preached  a  good  practical  sermon  on  the  extension  of 
Christ's  kingdom,  and  John  T.  Mitchell  preached  in  the 
afternoon.  I  think  never,  up  to  this  date,  had  I  felt  such 
an  inexpressible  desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls;  and  I  was 
ready  to  go  anywhere  within  the  bounds  of  the  conference, 
so  that  I  might  accomplish  this  great  work.  Our  session 
closed  on  Monday,  and  I  was  appointed  to  Dubuque  circuit, 
my  charge  embracing  the  mining  district  where  the  "pure 
waters  flow."  Elder  H.  W.  Reed,  residing  within  the 
bounds  of  my  circuit,  conducted  me  to  it  and  made  me 
welcome  to  his  own  home.  The  good  friends  on  my  former 
charge  had  asked  for  my  return  with  a  strong  petition  to 
the  appointing  power,  but  they  thought  it  not  best,  in  view 
of  my  severe  experience  with  the  chills  and  fever.  And 
now  located  among  warm  friends,  pure  air,  and  clear  water, 
I  soon  felt  like  a  new  man,  and  was  fully  prepared  for  the 
fall  and  winter  campaign.  I  shall  ever  feel  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude to  Brother  Reed  for  his  influence  at  that  time  in 
removing  me  from  that  sickly  valley  on  the  Skunk  river 
into  a  more  healthy  atmosphere. 


REV.     GEORGE     B.     BOWMAN.  75 

Our  first  quarterly  meeting  came  on  within  two  weeks 
after  reaching  my  new  field  of  labor  at  Cook's  chapel.  Rev. 
George  B.  Bowman  was  presiding  elder  of  Dubuque  dis- 
trict. This  was  our  first  acquaintance,  inasmuch  as  we  had 
labored  in  different  parts  of  the  state.  I  found  him  true, 
kind  and  faithful,  and  never  could  I  .ask  for  a  warmer 
friend.  He  was  an  embodiment  of  untiring  energy  and 
devotion  to  the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  he 
loved  to  have  the  preachers  on  his  district  profit  by  his 
example.  He  had  &  full  round  voice,  and  when  fully  inter- 
ested in  his  sermon  it  became  quite  loud,  and  at  our  camp- 
meetings  could  have  been  heard  nearly  one  mile.  I  have 
often  thought  that  he  could  perform  more  pulpit  work 
within  the  same  time,  taking  into  the  account  the  amount 
of  labor  laid  out,  than  any  minister  of  my  acquaintance; 
and  his  sermons  and  exhortations  were  oft-times  attended 
with  gracious  results.  On  the  Sabbath  of  this  quarterly 
meeting  above  alluded  to,  he  preached  one  hour  and  a  half 
on  the  Coming  Judgment.  After  service  we  went  home 
with  old  Brother  Houps,  a  Wesleyan  from  England.  As 
dinner  was  preparing,  the  old  brother  accosted  the  elder 
thus:  "  Brother  Bowman,  what  made  you  preach  so  long 
to  day?  Why,  you  preached  one  hour  and  a  half!"  "Was 
it  that  long?"  inquired  the  elder.  "  Well,  if  I  had  attempted 
to  shorten  it,  I  should  not  have  known  which  end  to 
shorten."  "  Cut  a  piece  off  from  both  ends,"  said  the 
Wesleyan,  "and  it  will  be  long  enough  then."  This  dear 
brother  had  listened  to  the  ministrations  of  the  sainted 
Wesley.  I  need  only  to  say  that  the  counsel  of  Brother 
Houps  was  followed  by  a  hearty  laugh,  which  prepared  us 
to  relish  a  good  dinner.  Monday  morning  came,  when  the 
elder  went  home,  and  I  continued  the  meeting  during  the 
week,  which  resulted  in  forty-four  professed  conversions 
and  accessions  to  the  church.  During  this  week  of  revival 
I  witnessed  a  very  touching  scene.  A  promising  young 
man  came  forward  to  the  altar,  and  after  a  long  struggle 


76  T  II  E     IJ  A  T  T  L  K     P  I  E  L  I)     tt  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

came  out  into  spiritual  light,  and  a  happier  man,  appa- 
ently,  I  never  witnessed.  In  the  midst  of  his  unbounded 
joy  he  thought  of  his  unconverted  mother.  He  made  his 
way  down  the  aisle  after  her,  but  she  saw  him  coming,  and 
started  for  the  door.  Passing  out  into  the  dark,  his  mother 
a  little  in  the  advance,  he  cried  out:  UO  mother,  how  can 
I  give  you  up!"  but  she  hastened  home  and  eluded  the 
pursuer.  This  is  a  striking  proof  of  the  power  of  divine  love 
in  the  human  heart  when  made  a  partaker  of  God's  grace, 
and  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  language  of  our  Saviour: 
"There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth." 

It  is  interesting  to  witness  in  such  a  work  of  divine  grace 
as  this,  its  influence  in  different  directions.  Truly,  "God- 
liness is  profitable  unto  all  things."  Some  old  grudges  of 
long-standing  were  removed,  and  the  chapel,  having  stood 
for  years  about  half  finished,  was  completed  within  a  short 
time.  Yea,  "  The  wilderness  and  solitary  places  became 
glad,  and  the  desert  rejoiced  and  blossomed  like  the  rose." 
Not  having  been  favored  with  a  revival  of  religion  on  this 
charge  for  several  years,  and  this  one  being  so  remarkable, 
it  stirred  up  the  community  for  miles  around,  and  its  influ- 
ence extended  into  the  city  of  Dubuque.  Rev.  E.  S. 
Norris  being  stationed  in  that  city  engaged  my  services  for 
one  week,  promising  to  assist  me  in  return.  The  meeting 
commenced  in  a  mining  district,  about  two  miles  from  the 
city,  now  called  Rockdale,  and  the  same  results  attended 
it,  even  at  the  first  service.  Ten  were  forward  for  prayers, 
and  the  power  of  the  Spirit  was  manifest.  On  Monday  eve- 
ning the  interest  was  still  greater.  Sixteen  were  at  the 
altar,  and  after  a  short  season  of  prayer,  they  all  rose  to 
their  feet  at  the  same  moment  of  time  soundly  converted. 
But  what  was  still  more  remarkable,  for  three  successive 
evenings  the  same  number  were  forward,  and  on  each  eve- 
ning all  were  converted  at  the  same  moment  of  time.  This 
was  the  most  striking  manifestation  of  divine  power  ever 
witnessed  by  any  one  present,  and  it  seemed  to  carry  every- 


COME     IN     AT     THE     ELEVENTH     HOUR.  77 

thing  before  it.  The  revival  services  lasted  eight  days,  and  the 
pastor  reported  seventy-five  saved  and  added  to  the  church. 
The  awakening  was  now  such  that  it  commenced  in  dif- 
ferent places  on  my  circuit  and  bid  fair  to  sweep  in  its 
influence  my  entire  charge.  Such  was  its  prevalence,  that 
for  five  months  I  was  constantly  in  the  work  of  laboring  to 
save  souls  night  and  day.  I  was  astonished,  as  well  as  my 
friends,  that  I  had  strength  and  vigor  to  labor  during  that 
time  without  breaking  down;  but  the  Holy  Spirit  that  i 
created  the  necessity  strengthened  and  inspired  me  and  f 
brought  me  out  unharmed.  There  was  one  little  drawback, 
however,  in  my  physical  man,  owing  to  constant  change  in 
my  sleeping  apartments,  which  brought  on  the  inflamma- 
tory rheumatism,  so  painful  that  in  some  instances  I 
required  help  to  get  on  and  off  from  my  horse,  and  in  the 
greatest  religious  interest  I  was  under  the  necessity  of 
standing  on  one  foot  whilst  presenting  the  glorious  message 
of  salvation.  But  I  could  well  endure  a  little  bodily  suffer- 
ing that  I  might  witness  the*escapeof  scores  from  the  death 
that  never  dies.  How  little  this  world  looked  to  me  at  this 
time,  except  as  a  short  stopping-place,  to  qualify  for  a 
higher  and  holier  destiny  beyond,  and  in  my  sleeping  hours, 
often  would  I  awake  and  find  my  soul  soaring  around  the 
borders  of  the  land  of  pure  delight.  These  are  some  of 
the  first  fruits  gathered  by  the  faithful  laborer,  and  they 
indicate  unmistakably  the  character  of  his  coming  reward. 
At  one  of  our  meetings  I  witnessed  a  rare  occurrence.  Two 
aged  persons  came  forward  as  seekers,  one  of  them  seventy- 
five  and  the  other  over  eighty  years  of  age.  What  a  sight 
to  witness!  two  such  men,  standing  upon  the  edge  of  time, 
pleading  for  the  pledge  of  life  eternal!  They  had  been 
spared  to  live  through  more  than  three  generations  without 
God  and  without  grace,  and  now,  just  ready  to  depart,  they 
ask  for  mercy  to  prepare  them  for  their  final  passage. 

44  Depth  of  mercy,  can  there  be 
Mercy  still  reserved  for  me?" 


f 


78  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

Yes;  there  was  mercy   even   for  them,  and  within  a  short 
time  they  could  realize 

V     "The  clouds  Disperse,  the  light  appears; 
My  sins  are  all  forgiven; 
Triumphant  grace  hath  quelled  my  fears. 
Roll  on,  ye  suns,  fly  swift,  ye  years, 
I'm  o)i  my  way  to  heaven" 

One  of  these  old  -young  converts  had  been  for  many 
years  a  soldier  in  the  army  ef  Wellington,  and  in  almost 
every  expression  he  would  use  military  terms.  As  he  arose 
from  his  seat,  filled  with  praise  and  gratitude  to  God  for 
his  wondrous  love,  he  remarked:  "  My  friends,  this  is  not  a 
forlorn  hope.  I  have  been  in  a  great  many  dangerous 
places,  fought  in  many  battles,  rejoiced  in  many  victories, 
but  I  have  never  before  met  such  an  enemy  and  gained 
such  a  victory  as  this  to-night;  and  no  reinforcements  of  the 
enemy  shall  wrest  it  out  of  my  hand.  The  Lord  of  hosts 
is  with  us;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge."  It  was  per- 
fectly thrilling  to  hear  him  use  his  patriotic  phrases  and 
then  make  scriptural  applications.  My  memory  fails  in 
retaining  them  all,  but  does  not  fail  in  recording  his  final 
triumph.  Within  four  months  from  the  time  that  he  stood 
at  the  divine  altar  inspiring  our  hearts  with  his  clear  testi- 
mony, I  stood  by  the  side  of  his  coffin  magnifying  the 
grace  that  saved  him,  and  proclaiming  his  final  victory 
through  faith  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 

And  right  at  this  point  I  had  an  experience  so  new  to  me, 
and  yet  so  glorious  in  the  outcome,  that  I  will  give  it  in  brief 
for  the  benefit  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry.  At  this 
place,  where  these  two  old  veterans  were  saved,  I  appointed 
a  meeting  with  the  understanding  that  it  should  continue 
through  the  week.  It  began  on  Sunday  and  continued  up 
to  Thursday  evening,  and  at  every  service  many  were  for- 
ward for  prayers.  It  seemed  that  there  was  so  little  faith 
in  the  church  that  we  were  at  a  stand-still  and  could  go  no 
further.  I  proposed,  before  the  audience  retired,  that  as 


MR.     LOO  MIS     CONVERTED.  79 

many  as  would  pledge  themselves  to  spend  the  ensuing  day 
(Friday)  in  fasting  and  in  prayer  until  three  o'clock  p.  M., 
for  the  success  of  our  next  service,  to  rise  up,  when  nearly 
all  in  the  house  arose.  This  pledge  was  faithfully  kept. 
The  following  evening  I  preached  about  twenty  minutes, 
standing  on  one  foot  (being  lame  with  the  rheumatism),  on 
the  excuses,  and  then  invited  seekers  forward.  Without 
any  urging  thirty  came  instantly — I  think  every  unconverted 
person  in  the  house  save  one^ — and  within  ten  minutes' time 
they  were  all  on  their  feet  adoring  the  Saviour  for  what  he 
had  done  for  them.  The  reason  that  this  one  did  not  go 
forward  was  this — he  was  the  father  of  three  little  children, 
and  they  were  present.  Said  the  wife  to  her  husband, 
"  You  hold  the  children  until  I  go  forward,  and  when  I  am 
saved  I  will  hold- them  for  you."  Accordingly  she  went, 
but  soon  I  saw  her  returning  with  joy  beaming  from  her 
countenance,  and  as  she  returned  she  exclaimed:  "  O, 
George,  I  have  found  Jesus;  now  I  will  hold  the  children, 
and  you  go  and  seek  salvation,  too."  N"o  sooner  said  than 
done;  and  in  a  short  time  he  returned,  also  rejoicing  in  pos- 
session of  the  same  treasure;  and  two  happier  persons  I 
never  looked  upon.  O,  could  you  have  looked  into  the 
eyes  of  those  dear  children,  as  their  father  and  mother  were 
rejoicing  in  their  happy  state,  as  I  did,  it  would  have 
touched  the  tenderest  sensibilities  of  the  soul.  They  seemed 
to  say,  anxiously  and  inquiringly:  "  Mother,  is  there  not 
some  of  this  left  for  me?"  I  am  sure  if  Jesus  had  been 
there  personallv,  as  he  stood  before  the  multitude,  he  would 
have  taken  them  up  in  his  arms  and  blessed  them,  too. 

There  was  present  at  the  altar-on  this  occasion  an  indi- 
vidual of  much  interest.  His  name  was  Loornis.  He  was 
reared  among  the  respectable  families  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  his  parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  had  passed  from  year  to  year  through 
the  most  extensive  and  stirring  revivals  of  that  city,  and  was 
still  unsaved.  He  had  recently  come  to  the  mining  regions 


80  T  H  E     P,  A  T  T  L  K     FIE  L  I)     II  E  V  1  E  W  E  I)  . 

in  hopes  of  securing  a  fortune,  and  was  there  at  work  when 
he  heard  of  this  meeting.  He  had  traveled  several  miles 
that  evening  to  reach  it,  and  as  he  placed  his  hand  on  the 
door-knob  to  enter,  some  passage  of  Scripture  which  I  was 
then  quoting — I  think  this:  "Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and 
knock,"  reached  his  conscience,  and  as  a  consequence  he 
was  first  among  the  seekers,  and  among  the  first  converted. 
He  remained  with  us  during  the  year  in  church  fellowship, 
and  was  an  honor  to  the  society  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
The  last  sinner  present  was  now  saved,  and  such  a  pente- 
cost  as  followed  is  beyond  all  description.  Every  heart  was 
filled  with  gladness,  and  every  tongue  active  proclaiming 
the  praises  of  the  divine  Master.  We  remained  until  near 
eleven  o'clock  p.  M.,  when  we  adjourned  and  repaired  for 
home  to  reflect  upon  Jesus'  power  to  save,  and  his  skill  in 
teaching  us  how  immortal  crowns  are  won.  Brother  and 
Sister  Nolon,  whose  hospitalities  I  shared  that  evening,  still 
cherish  that  season  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  their 
religious  life.  Two  of  the  converts  who  embraced  religion 
at  this  revival,  before  the  year  was  closed  went  home  to 
unite  in  singing  redemption's  song  in  heaven.  This  matter 
of  taking  pledges  from  the  members  of  the  church,  alluded 
to  above,  should  be  very  carefully  guarded.  There  are 
times  and  occasions  like  the  one  referred  to,  when  they  are 
appropriate  and  necessary,  but  when  of  too  frequent  occur- 
rence, they  lose  all  of  their  virtue  or  binding  force.  I  have 
now  in  my  mind  a  zealous  minister  who  labored  on  a  charge 
to  which  I  was  afterward  appointed,  that  had  nearly  worn 
th<i  brethren  out  with  h.is  call  for  pledges,  and  they  had  be- 
come a  burden  instead  of  a  blessing.  How  much  discretion 
is  needed  in  this  work  of  saving  souls.  My  interchange  of 
service  with  Rev.  E.  S.  Norris,  pastor  in  Dubuque  city,  was 
pleasant  and  profitable.  He  was  an  able  minister  of  the 
New  Testament,  and  earnestly  devoted  to  his  charge  in 
building  up  its  spiritual  interests.  He  preached  at  times 
with  great  ability  and  effect,  and  was  much  beloved  by  his 


DUBUQUE     CIKCUIT —  SPIRIT     OF     WHISKY.     81 

people.  In  no  work  since  my  entrance  into  the  ministry, 
had  I  noticed  the  practical  effects  of  the  Christian  religion 
as  I  saw  it  here.  Families  which  I  had  previously  visited 
by  invitation,  where  the  good  taste  and  sometimes  the 
good  appetite  of  the  pastor  were  severely  tested,  after  em- 
bracing religion  were  entirely  changed.  And  why  not? 
"If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature.  Old- 
things  are  passed  away;  behold,  all  things  are  become 
new."  And  here  was  proof  at  hand.  Grace  had  not  only 
changed  the  heart,  but  every  interest  about  the  house  pre- 
sented a  different  appearance;  so  much  so,  that  one  would 
be  led  to  suppose  that  the  whole  premises  had  been  con- 
verted to  a  new  faith  and  a  new  life.  This  is  what  the 
Christian  religion  does  for  the  human  race.  It  not  only 
lays  the  "rough  paths  of  peevish  nature  even,  and  opens  in 
each  breast  a  little  heaven,  but  by  its  transforming  in- 
fluence it  changes  old  habits  into  new  virtues,  and  causes 
the  wilderness  of  sin  to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose." 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

In  my  last  chapter  I  concluded  with  the  marked  change 
that  godliness  produces  in  the  practical  affairs  of  life.  I 
now  present  altogether  a  new  item  of  history.  During  my 
first  year  on  this  circuit,  I  took  in  a  new  appointment,  and 
formed  a  very  prosperous  class.  The  leader  being  a  Wes- 
leyan,  recently  from  England,  and  well  instructed  in  all  the 
interests  of  the  church,  made  my  visits  to  that  place  both 
profitable  and  pleasant.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that 
our  Methodist  brethren  who  come  from  the  old  country  are 
not  so  careful,  as  a  rule,  in  relation  to  their  temperance 
habits,  as  the  Americans.  This  was  the  case  here,  and  I 
did  what  I  could  to  correct  it.  Meanwhile  we  had  been 
favored  with  a  large  accession  of  young  converts,  and  a 
7 


82  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     K  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 


interest  at  every  service.     As  I  was  on  my  wav  to 

J  «/  */ 

preach  to  them  the  day  previous,  I  was  informed  that  the 
class-leader  had  purchased  a  barrel  of  liquor  since  my  last 
appointment,  that  many  members  of  the  church  had  been 
intoxicated,  and  that  it  was  spreading  havoc  through  the  com- 
munity generally.  At  first  I  could  not  credit  it;  but  having 
been  fully  confirmed,  I  was  filled  with  surprise  and  a  kind 
of  indignation  to  think  that  a  work  of  such  promise,  and  to 
accomplish  which  I  had  expended  so  much  labor,  should  be 
blasted  in  a  day,  and  that  through  the  influence  of  liquor. 
On  Monday  evening,  as  usual,  I  went  to  the  place  of  preach. 
ing  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  The  congregation 
gathered;  but  oh,  what  a  change!  The  spirit  was  there, 
but  it  was  the  spirit  of  whisky;  and,  like  Egyptian  dark- 
ness, it  could  be  felt  as  well  as  smelt.  I  selected  a  text  for 
the  occasion  that  had  edge  as  well  as  point,  for  I  was  con- 

\  scious  that  I  should  need  both  in  order  to  do  justice  to  my 
audience.  It  was  the  language  of  Samuel  to  Saul,  who  had 
been  sent  to  Amalek  to  destroy  the  city  and  everything 
connected  with  it,  but  had  disobeyed  God's  commandment 
by  saving  the  life  of  the  king,  and  the  best  of  the  sheep 
and  the  oxen.  On  his  return  home,  he  was  met  bv  the  old 
prophet,  whom  he  addressed  as  follows:  "  Blessed  be  thou 

'  of  the  Lord;  I  have  performed  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord."  And  Samuel  said:  "What  meanest  then  this 
bleating  of  the  sheep  in  mine  ears,  and  the  lowing  of  the 
oxen  which  I  hear?"  This  last  scripture  was  my  text.  1 
proceeded  to  show  how  God  had  honored  Saul  by  raising 
him  from  his  low  estate  to  that  of  being  king  over  Israel; 
how  his  enemies  had  been  subdued  before  him,  and  nothing 
was  in  the  way  of  his  elevation  to  the  highest  position  among 
men. 

I  then  gave  some  of  his  commendable  characteristics, 
his  prompt  obedience  in  starting  out,  his  undoubted 
courage,  and  his  ultimate  repentance.  Then  the  nature 
of  his  crime  and  his  miserable  apology.  First,  he  attested 


A     POINTED     S  E  E  M  O  N     AND     ITS     RESULTS.        83 

his  innocence  when  Samuel  visited  him,  before  he  was 
pronounced  guilty,  with  flattery  and  deception.  Further, 
he  laid  the  blame  upon  the  people;  and  as  if  to  palliate 
the  crime  of  disloyalty  to  God,  he  proposed  to  offer 
them  as  sacrifices  to  the  Lord.  Then  I  dwelt  upon  the 
final  result;  which  was  his  degradation  and  death.  Then 
came  on  the  application.  In  this  I  reminded  them  how 
highly  they  had  been  favored  all  their  lives  wjth  the 
teaching  and  salutary  influences  of  the  gospel;  and  espe- 
cially so  recently,  in  raising  up  a  large  class  of  professed 
Christians,  where  a  short  time  previous  no  herald's  voice 
proclaiming  salvation  had  been  heard,  or  the  songs  of  Zion 
sung;  and  how  the  Lord  had  prospered  them  spiritually 
and  was  ready  to  prosper  them  more.  I  referred  to  the 
fact  that  the  pastor's  reception  among  them  had  always  been 
of  the  heartiest  kind.  They  were  ever  ready  to  welcome 
him  with  the  salutation  "  Blessed  be  thou  of  the  Lord," 
and  the  leader  to  report  favorably  as  to  the  spiritual  condi- 
tion of  the  membership.  How  reciprocal  was  the  welcome, 
and  how  I  rejoiced  to  hear  it.  "  But  how  is  it  now?  What 
is  the  spiritual  record  to-riight?  Has  Christ  been  hon- 
ored and  his  word  obeyed?  If  so,  what  means  this  barrel 
of  whisky  under  the  bed,  and  these  smelling  bottles  all 
through  the  audience?  Are  these  evidences  of  spiritual 
prosperity  and  growth  in  grace?"  Never  had  I  preached 
and  never  had  they  listened  to  such  a  sermon  before. 
Nathan  had  visited  David,  and  with  his  finger  pointed 
exclaimed  "  Thou  art  the  man!"  Had  there  been  at  that 
moment  a  clap  of  thunder,  I  am  satisfied  that  it  would  not 
have  startled  and  surprised  the  audience  more  than  this.  No 
responsive  amens,  no  hallelujahs  followed,  but  one  solemn 
silence  seemed  to  say:  "  Lord,  I  have  sinned  and  done  this 
evil  in  thy  sight."  This  faithful  message  had  performed 
its  work.  The  next  morning  the  leader  made  a  hearty  con- 
fession, promised  amendment,  rolled  out  the  barrel  of  liquor 
into  the  street,  knocked  in  the  head,  and  the  last  of  its 


8-i  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     KE  VIE  WED. 

stimulating  qualities  sank  away  into  mother  earth.  But  the 
work  of  that  week  could  never  be  undone.  Its  shameful 
record  had  passed  into  history,  and  even  an  angel's  hand 
could  not  wipe  out  the  blot.  And  there  it  will  stand  as  a 
part  of  earth's  doings  until  eternal  interests  shall  be  sub- 
stituted for  time.  The  facts  above  related  were  sufficient 
to  satisfy  all  parties,  and  no  experience  of  this  kind  was 
repeated  during  my  labors  upon  the  charge.  A  chapel  was 
subsequently  built  near  the  scene  of  interest,  and  stands  to 
this  day  as  a  memorial  of  battles  fought  and  victories  won; 
and  I  doubt  not  that  when  the  Master  conies  to  gather  up 
his  own,  some  precious  jewels  will  hail  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  R's  chapel. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  variety  of  subjects  and 
incidents  which  come  within  the  sphere  of  ministerial  expe- 
rience. Within  the  bounds  of  this  work  an  excellent 
brother  was  always  present  at  preaching,  and  took  his  seat 
in  the  "  amen  corner."  The  programme  was  so  well  laid  out 
and  so  faithfully  kept,  that  1  knew  just  what  to  expect. 
About  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  of  the  sermon  was  em- 
ployed in  nodding  and  snoring,  until  the  minister  became 
fully  engaged,  when  all  at  once  he  would  awake  and 
begin  to  praise  the  Lord  as  if  warmed  up  under  the  inspi- 
ration of  divine  truth.  I  never  blamed  him  for  gratitude 
to  God  in  enjoying  a  good  nap,  but  for  his  pretensions  of 
getting  very  happy  under  the  discourse,  when  everybody 
knew  that  he  had  been  fast  asleep.  The  shout  would  have 
come  in  with  better  grace  had  it  been  an  intelligent  one.  I 
suppose  that  1  could  have  obviated  the  difficulty  for  the 
time  being  had  I  taken  for  my  text:  "  What  meanest  thou, 
/f  O  sleeper!"  or  pursued  the  course  of  one  laboring  near  me, 
.  in  a  hot  day  in  June.  Discovering  many  of  his  congrega- 
tion asleep,  he  paused  in  his  sermon  and  remarked:  "  We 
will  change  the  order  of  exercises  for  a  short  time,  for  the 
especial  benefit  of  those  who  are  asleep.  We  will  sing  one 


PROVIDING     POK    THE     DAY     OF     WANT.  85 

or  two  verses  of  a  hymn,  and  for  convenience  sake  we  will 
line  it,  that  you  may  all  sing."  He  began  as  follows: 

"  My  drowsy  powers,  why  sleep  ye  so  ? 

Awake,  my  sluggish  soul ! 
Nothing  hath  half  i\\y  work  to  do, 
Yet  nothing  ys  half  so  dull." 

The  second  stanza  was  not  needed,  for  the  first  was  not 
finished  before  every  one  was  wide  awake  and  ready  to  hear 
the  remaining  part  of  the  discourse.  I  recollect  in  one 
instance,  having  reached  a  new  charge,  one  of  my  most  influ- 
ential members  came  tome  before  preaching  and  remarked: 
"  Brother  Taylor,  you  must  not  be  afflicted  if  you  see  me 
asleep  during  services,  for  it  is  a  constitutional  difficulty, 
and  it  would  be  the  same  if  T  were  listening  to  Bishop 
Bascom."  And  I  doubt  not  whilst  we  have  to  contend 
with  frail  bodies  and  a  sluggish  atmosphere,  we  shall  need 
grace  to  endure  this  infirmity,  and  have  abundant  reasons 
to  be  thankful  that  they  are  sleepers  merely  and  not  dis- 
pensers of  T.  J.  both  at  the  same  time. 

About  this  time  my  attention  was  called  to  another  sub- 
ject. Having  lost  in  Ohio,  by  the  failure  of  the  company 
for  which  I  was  engaged,  all  I  had  to  depend  upon,  I 
arrived  in  the  territory  with  but  very  little  means.  Receiv- 
ing but  eighty-five  dollars  for  the  services  of  the  two  past 
years,  I  had  but  little  to  expend  in  making  provision  for 
the  future.  And  yet  T  considered  it  a  religious  duty  to  do 
all  that  I  could  for  those  depending  upon  me,  and  for  mv 
own  support  in  the  failure  of  my  health  or  the  decline  of 
life.  Though  I  was  young,  I  had  already  known  quite  a 
number  of  Methodist  ministers  whose  health  had  failed,  left 
without  support,  and  had  to  depend  upon  their  own  feeble 
exertions  and  the  charities  of  the  church.  Fully  realizing 
this,  every  dollar  which  I  could  spare  was  laid  out  in  the 
purchase  of  a  little  piece  of  land  in  a  good  locality  which  I 
knew  would  be  valuable  at  some  future  day  And  thus  I 
saved  and  economized  until  T  was  the  owner  of  about  four 


86        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

hundred  acres,  part  in  Muscatine  and  part  in  Dubuque 
county,  which  I  afterwards  sold  at  a  good  profit;  and  in  this 
\vay  I  was  soon  above  embarrassment,  and  had  something 
besides  to  assist  my  friends  and  the  cause  of  Christ.  1 
have  ever  recognized  the  blessing  of  God  in  enabling  me 
to  secure  temporal  good — seemingly  without  much  effort 
on  my  part — as  in  any  other  department  of  Christian  work, 
my  faith  fully  embracing  the  promise  of  Jesus,  that  if  we 
"  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  all 
other  things  will  be  added."  Such  has  been  my  faith  and 
such  has  been  my  portion.  And  now  in  the  sixty-ninth 
year  of  my  natural  life,  I  can  gratefully  say,  "  The  Lord 
is  my  Shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.  He  maketh  me  to  lie 
down  in  green  pastures,  he  leadeth  me  by  the  side  of  still 
waters;"  and  in  looking  into  the  future,  I  can  with  confi- 
dence exclaim:  "  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow 
me  all  the  days  of  my  life,  and  I  shall  abide  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord  forever." 

During  the  great  spiritual  interests  of  this  year,  I  was 
occasionally  favored  with  the  visits  of  Elder  H.  W.  Reed, 
who  was  now  in  charge  of  Iowa  City  district.  His  visits 
were  always  welcome  and  his  services  always  appreciated 
on  this  circuit  where  his  family  resided.  He  was  originally 
a  member  of  the  Rock  River  conference,  and  in  this  rela- 
tion was  stationed  two  years  in  Dubuque  city.  In  its 
division,  he  was  appointed  to  Iowa,  presiding  elder  of 
Dubuque  district,  which  position  he  held  when  I  first  formed 
his  acquaintance.  As  he  is  still  living  and  laboring  in  Kan- 
sas, I  must  be  careful  how  and  what  I  write.  For  several 
years  he  was  the  standing  secretary  of  the  conference,  and 
constantly  in  the  district  work.  He  was  of  medium  size,  had 
a  pleasant  but  not  very  strong  voice,  was  clear-headed,  far- 
seeing^  a  good  student,  an  able  preacher,  and  an  efficient  pre- 
siding elder.  He  was  also  very  kind-hearted,  a  fast  friend, 
and  very  popular  with  the  preachers  on  his  charge,  and  in 
the  conference  generally.  Being  intimately  associated  with 


TRIBUTE     TO     REV.     II  .     W  .     REED.  87 

him  for  several  years,  living  within  the  bounds  of  my  work, 
as  well  as  his  assistant  secretary,  I  had  a  fine  opportunity 
of  becoming  acquainted  with  him.  His  sermons  were 
practical  and  interesting,  having  something  new  to  present 
in  almost  every  subject.  His  powers  of  amplification 
belonged  only  to  himself.  Oftentimes  as  I  listened  to 
him  when  seeming  to  have  finished  the  proposition,  he  would 
sally  out  anew,  and  present  some  peculiar  phase  of  the  sub- 
ject which  I  had  never  thought  of.  Upon  one  occasion, 
having  invited  him  to  preach  for  me,  just  after  a  church 
trial  of  two  or  three  members  of  my  charge,  prosecuted 
and  conducted  by  a  local  preacher  in  the  community,  he 
took  for  his  text,  James  v.  20:  "  Let  him  know  that  he 
which  converteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall 
save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins." 
It  was  truly  a  masterly  effort.  When  dwelling  upon  the 
nobleness  and  grandeur  of  converting  the  sinner  from  the 
error  of  his  way,  and  saving  a  soul  from  death,  his  descrip- 
tion of  this  work  was  sublime.  But  when  he  drew  the  con- 
trast— how  unmanly,  low,  and  mean,  and  even  fiendish  it 
was  to  use  every  effort  to  destroy  a  soul,  and  that  oft-times 
to  gratify  some  old  grudge,  or  to  carry  out  some  unreas- 
onable prejudice,  he  gave  such  a  portrait  that  no  one  could 
help  seeing  it.  The  advocate  listened  as  interestedly  as 
though  the  original  of  the  picture  had  not  been  present, 
but  the  flashes  of  divine  truth  were  so  numerous  and  forci- 
ble that  my  sympathies  began  to  run  out  toward  the  lawyer 
instead  of  the  prisoners;  and  I  was  not  quite  certain 
but  the  pastor  himself  was  included  for  entertaining 
the  charge.  The  matter,  however,  was  satisfactorily  adjusted 
and  the  end  was  peace.  But  at  our  annual  conferences,  in 
some  instances,  when  some  of  our  young  "sprigs"  were 
wont  to  criticise  his  movements  or  opinions,  it  was  really 
amusing  to  see  how  soon  their  laurels  would  be  changed 
into  willows.  Upon  one  occasion  a  brother  arose  and 
charged  the  elder  with  being  guilty — "  not  of  open-handed 


88  T  II  K     li  A  T  T  L  E     F  I  E  I,  I >     II  F.  V  I  E  W  ft  I)  . 

accusation  which  could  be  met  in  an  honorable  way — steel 
answering  to  steel — but  a  kind  of  hypocritical  dissembling, 
that  of  whispering  a  man's  character  to  death  without  his 
being  able  to  make  a  show  of  defense."  He  concluded  by 
saying  "  that  he  did  not  wish  to  die  in  that  way"  The 
elder  listened  very  calmly  until  his  speech  was  ended,  then 
he  arose  and  remarked  "  That  he  was  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  the  brother  was  drivin-g  at;  that  he  was  not  aware 
until  then  that  his  character  had  been  arrested  and  passed 
through  such  a  trying  ordeal;  that  he  had  not  heard  of  the 
decease  of  any  one's  character  in  that  way;  but  that  if  his 
condition  was  dangerous,  and  death  probable,  he  would 
advise  him  to  goto  work  and  make  such  a  character  that  it 
could  not  be  whispered  to  death;"  concluding  his  remarks 
about  in  this  way:  that  it  was  a  little  suspicious  touching 
the  real  value  of  a  man's  character,  to  see  it  die  so  easy 
a  death.  My  readers  will  not  be  surprised  when  I  inform 
them  that  this  short  speech  put  a  quietus  upon  the  logic  of 
the  young  man  eloquent,  and  it  was  the  last  time  that  he 
ventured  to  criticise  the  "  old  chief."  This  last  title — "  the 
old  chief" — the  elder  secured  by  being  sent  by  the  govern- 
ment as  agent  of  the  Black  Foot  Indians,  where  he 
remained  for  some  length  of  time.  In  this  position,  like 
all  others  in  which  he  had  been  placed,  he  acquitted  himself 
with  honor,  several  times  having  been  elected  delegate  to 
General  Conference;  and  though  at  this  date,  like  the  writer, 
the  "Almond  tree"  is  in  blossom,  I  doubt  not  but  that 
his  virtues,  even  in  old  age,  will  shine  on  increasingly  unto 
the  perfect  day. 

But  let  me  turn  aside  for  a  few  moments  from  my  narra- 
tive and  examine  this  memorial.  It  is  a  letter  just  received 
from  a  dear  friend  residing  in  Winona,  Minn.,  with  words 
of  encouragement  and  gladness  that  I  have  decided  to  write 
up  the  history  of  my  life  and  labors.  You  will  recollect 
that  upon  a  former  page  I  spoke  of  a  gracious  revival  at 
Rockdale,  near  the  city  of  Dubuque,  where  sixteen  were 


HOtf.     THOMAS     SIMPSON    OF     WINONA.  8D 

converted  during  four  successive  nights.  Among  that 
number  of  sixteen,  I  think  on  Wednesday  night,  there  stood 
a  promising  youth  of  light  complexion,  about  twelve  years 
of  age,  his  countenance  radiant  with  divine  light,  rejoicing 
in  the  assurance  of  life  eternal.  As  he  was  quite  young, 
and  low  in  stature,  he  was  easily  singled  out  from  all  the 
rest.  That  youth  went  out  from  that  consecrated  altar 
within  a  few  years  to  engage  in  the  duties  and  meet  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  life.  The  church,  in  its  wisdom,  set  him 
right  to  work,  and  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  he  was 
elected  Sunday-school  librarian,  and  when  fifteen  years  of 
age  recording  steward  for  the  charge  to  which  he  belonged. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  the  employee  of  Rev.  E.  S. 
Norris,  and  stretched  the  first  chain  on  the  government 
surveys  in  Minnesota  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  E.  S.  Norris  the  contract  was  turned  over 
to  him,  and  for  more  than  two  years,  with  twenty-six  men 
engaged  under  his  control,  the  Sabbath  was  sacredly  kept, 
not  a  drop  of  liquor  was  used,  neither  profanity  nor  card 
playing  allowed.  Such  a  surveying  record  as  this  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  record.  In  1856  he  settled  in  Winona,  then  a 
small  village,  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  for  a  time 
engaged  in  the  land  business  and  in  the  loaning  of  money. 
About  this  date  he  was  appointed  class-leader  and  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  in  First  church,  Winona,  which 
office  he  has  held  for  twenty-five  years.  In  the  years  of 
1865  and  1866  he  filled  the  office  of  state  senator,  and  was 
for  many  years  president  of  the  Normal  school  board,  which 
includes  three  state  normal  schools,  %hich  position  he  fills 
at  the  present  time.  To  sum  it  all  up:  In  every  interest 
pertaining  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city,  and 
especially  the  interests  of  the  church,  he  has  been  in  the 
front  ranks.  From  a  handful,  when  he  settled  in  the  city,  the 
M.  E.  church  now  numbers  about  six  hundred  members,  with 
seven  hundred  children  in  their  Sunday-schools;  and  from 
a  little  village,  the  city  contains  a  population  of  ten  thou- 


90     THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

sand.  Thus  I  have  given  my  readers  a  short  and  imperfect 
sketch  of  the  history  of  that  boy  who  stood  among  the  con- 
verts in  Rockdale  in  November,  184? — now  Hon.  Thomas 
Simpson,  one  of  the  first  men  in  Winona,  Minn.  In  the 
winter  of  1875  I  paid  him  a  visit  as  ponference  evangelist, 
when  I  had  the  pleasure  of  a  reunion  of  old  friendships  and 
that  of  an  acquaintance  with  his  intelligent  companion  and 
interesting  little  household  for  more  than  two  weeks.  In 
my  labors  among  that  people,  during  my  short  sojourn,  I 
still  cherish  the  remembrance  of  their  friendships  and  gen- 
erosity with  grateful  pleasure,  and,  with  very  many  others, 
hold  dear  in  my  memory  and  love  Brother  and  Sister  Gage, 
who  were  converted  under  my  labors  at  Old  Centenary, 
Dubuque,  in  the  winter  of  1855.  How  joyful  will  be  our 
meeting  as  we  join  immortal  hands  on  the  heavenly  shore! 
Whilst  traveling  Dubuque  circuit  the  second  year,  I  en- 
joyed the  privilege  of  visiting  Brother  Rowley,  whose  father 
and  brother  lived  on  Burlington  circuit,  Lawrence  county, 
Ohio.  I  enjoyed  with  him  a  very  pleasant  season,  and  it 
seemed  like  meeting  a  former  acquaintance.  His  aged 
father  had  just  departed,  which  brings  me  to  record  my  last 
visit  to  him  and  family  before  I  emigrated  West.  Many 
interesting  spots  there  are  in  personal  history  to  which  the 
mind  will  ever  after  refer  with  gratitude  and  delight,  and 
such  there  are  also  in  the  history  of  the  devoted  Christian; 
and  though  age  and  infirmity  come  on,  the  mind  may  be 
enfeebled  and  the  memory  weakened,  but  the  day  of  his 
conversion  or  sarictification  remains  so  sweetly  enclosed 
within,  that  the  hand  6%  weakness  or  decay  can  not  disturb 
its  calm  repose.  Delightfully  indeed  do  I  reflect  upon  this 
visit  made  to  that  old  veteran  of  the  Cross  when  traveling 
Burlington  circuit.  So  exceedingly  infirm  was  he  (having 
attained  the  age  of  ninety-six  years),  that  he  was  unable  to 
distinguish  his  own  children.  But  when  I  asked  him  if  he 
knew  the  Saviour,  immediately  it  touched  a  cord  that  seemed 
to  vibrate  backward  to  the  vigorous  days  of  youth.  He 


THE     AGED     PILGRIM ONLY     WAITING.          91 

carried  me,  in  his  interesting  relation,  fifty  or  sixty  years 
through  the  history  of  the  past  to  the  day  of  his  conversion. 
He  informed  me  that  through  that  long  and  varied  course 
he  had  known  the  Saviour  well,  and  up  to  that  time  he  had 
been  a  "  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother."  He 
then,  by  a  sudden  transition,  took  an  upward  flight  toward 
heaven.  He  spoke  of  a  country  where  old  age  will  not  dim 
the  eye,  and  where  the  rush  of  numerous  years  will  no  more 
affect  the  memorv.  He  spoke  of  the  crown  of  life,  of  a 
glorified  body,  of  happy  society,  the  rapturous  joys  of 
heaven,  and  the  prospect  of  soon  entering  upon  their  en- 
joyment; and  whilst  I  listened  to  his  stirring  relation,  I  was 
constrained  to  say:  u  If  such  be  the  power  and  excellence 
of  religion,  let  me  always  enjoy  it."  Since  then  this  vener- 
able father  has  gone  to  rest.  He  finished,  I  am  told,  his 
five  score  years,  then  closed  his  peaceful  eyes  amid  the 
brightening  rays  of  eternal  day.  Many  highly  favored  inter- 
views have  I  enjoyed  with  Christians  among  the  old  and  the 
young;  many  have  been  the  hours  which  have  been  spent 
in  holy  converse;  but  never,  I  think,  was  I  raised  to  a  more 
elevated  view  of  the  pure  joys  of  the  "  Eden  above,"  than 
under  that  short  but  interesting  sermon.  I  was  forcibly  re- 
minded that  whilst  the  "  outward  man  is  perishing,  the  in- 
ward man  is  renewed  day  by  day,"  and  though  nearly  lost 
to  earth,  so  far  as  it  regards  the  body,  the  soul  may  be 
gathering  strength  and  preparing  to  fly  away  to  its  destined 
home.  Thirty-seven  winters  have  passed  since  I  bade  adieu 
to  that  good  old  man  and  the  quiet  vale  in  which  he  resided, 
but  still  do  I  see  his  sightless  eyeballs  turned  upward 
toward  heaven,  the  tears  of  grateful  joy  tracing  the  furrows 
of  his  cheek;  and  still  do  I  hear  his  shattered  voice  ex- 
claiming, in  the  language  of  faith,  "All  the  days  of  my  ap- 
pointed time  will  I  wait  till  my  change  come."  Labor  is 
still  mine;  and  f/ladty  will  I  labor  in  a  cause  which  presents 
such  immortal  beauties,  and  such  undying  glories.  Yes, 
labor  is  mine,  whilst  rest  is  his;  but  the  day  is  not  far  dis- 


92  THE     li  A  T  T  L  K     FIELD     It  K  V  T  E  W  E  D  . 

tant  when  I  shall  meet  him  and  many  others  with  whom  I 
have  labored  and  rejoiced,  in  that  pure  clime  where  old 
things  shall  be  done  away,  and  all  things  new  become. 


CHAPTER     XVII. 

The  labors  of  the  past  year  on  Dubuque  circuit  closed 
with  an  interesting  camp-meeting  in  which  the  church  was 
greatly  blessed,  but  such  had  been  the  thorough  work  of 
grace  in  the  community  that  not  a  soul  was  converted;  yet 
there  were  about  two  hundred  reported  saved  during  the 
labors  of  the  year.  Our  conference  session  this  fall  (1848) 
was  held  in  the  city  of  Dubuque,  Bishop  Morris  presiding. 
Nothing  of  unusual  occurrence  took  place  during  this  ses- 
sion, save  that  the  merits  of  secret  societies  were  pretty 
well  discussed,  and  a  resolution  offered  and  passed  advising 
the  members  of  the  conference  not  to  unite  with  them. 
This  action  having  created  some  unpleasant  feeling  during 
the  year,  at  the  ensuing  conference  all  restrictions  were 
removed  and  peace  fully  restored.  Joseph  Brooks  was 
elected  secretary  and  served  without  any  assistant.  The 
bishop,  on  the  Sabbath,  preached  one  of  his  plain,  practical 
sermons,  but  his  theme  I  cannot  call  to  mind.  The  appoint- 
ments being  read,  I  was  returned  to  Dubuque  circuit,  as  I  ex- 
pected, the  quarterly  conference  requesting  it,  with  my  old 
presiding-elder  Bowman.  And  now  came  on  a  new  experi- 
ence. I  found  it  much  easier  to  get  the  people  converted 
than  it  was  to  have  them  u  stay  converted,"  and  thus  I 
labored  hard  in  order  to  maintain  the  ground  that  I  had 
gained.  But  the  Lord  was  with  us,  and  gave  us  during  the 
second  a  very  pleasant  year.  Rev.  E.  S.  Norris  was  con- 
tinued also  in  the  city.  About  this  date  there  was  nothing 
more  prolific  of  evil  among  the  first  settlers  than  the  claim 
interest.  Some  would  encircle  too  much  land;  one  would 


PRE-EMPTION     TROUBLES  —  IMMERSIONS.      03 

invade  the  rights  of  another  either  by  jumping  or  entering 
his  claim;  and  thus  for  years  the  minister  on  the  charge 
would  have  more  difficulty  with  the  brethren  to  adjust  mat- 
ters satisfactorily  than  in  almost  everything  else.  Then, 
again,  in  the  matter  of  pre-empting,  the  law  required  a 
cabin  to  be  built,  and  actual  residence,  in  order  to  be  en- 
titled to  its  benefits.  And  such  cabins  were  enough  to 
amuse  any  one.  They  were  often  built  with  sticks,  hardly 
of  sufficient  size  for  a  man  to  lie  down  in  to  sleep  during 
the  night;  no  chinking  nor  plastering;  and  yet  they  called 
these  cabins;  and  in  one  instance,  I  was  told  by  one  of  our 
pioneers  that  he  passed  a  man  in  the  prairie,  lying  down 
in  a  barrel  with  his  feet  sticking  out,  and  when  asked  what 
he  was  doing  there,  answered:  "I  am  satisfying  the  pre- 
emption law."  Then  they  would  repair  to  the  land  office 
and  affirm  that  they  had  filled  its  demands  by  actual  resi- 
dence. These  were  some  of  the  drawbacks  to  a  healthful 
state  in  the  church  during  its  first  settlements,  and  it 
needed  much  grace  and  wisdom  in  order  to  satisfy  all  par- 
ties, and  to  preserve  harmony  and  peace.  After  the  usual 
labors  of  the  winter  were  past,  the  elder  requested  me  to 
visit  Maquoketa  and  Dewitt,  left  vacant  by  their  pastor, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Brier,  emigrating  to  California.  This  was  the 
period  (1849)  when  the  great  gold  excitement  broke  out 
there,  and  very  many  went  from  Iowa  to  make  a  fortune 
in  its  golden  sands.  I  was  requested  to  remain  over  two 
Sabbaths,  baptize  the  young  converts  and  receive  them 
into  the  church.  Having  passed  the  Sunday  at  the  former 
place,  on  Monday  I  started  for  Dewitt,  in  company  with 
Brother  Cook.  Reaching  Dewitt,  the  friends  gave  me  a 
warm  reception,  and  after  preaching  on  the  Sabbath,  I  bap- 
tized a  large  number  by  immersion.  It  being  in  the  spring 
season,  the  water  was  very  cold  and  the  service  rather  chill- 
ing to  the  subjects,  and  very  much  so  to  the  administrator. 
In  no  one  instance  in  my  life  did  I  realize  the  benefits  ol 
skill  in  this  mode  of  baptism  as  in  the  present.  Some  of 


' 


94  T  H  E     K  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  AN'  E  I)  . 

the  converts  wore  of  good  size,  and  1  needed  the  benefit  of 
all  the  wisdom  in  my  possession  in  the  cold,  swift-running 
water.  As  1  had  previously  witnessed  some  narrow  escapes 
in  this  ceremony,  by  placing  the  subject  straight  with  the 
stream,  and  then  raising  him  by  main  strength,  when  all 
was  ready  I  adopted  this  method:  I  asked  the  candidates 
to  kneel  in  the  water;  this  covered  most  of  their  person; 
then  all  I  had  to  do  was  to  immerse  the  head  and  shoulders. 
But  the  best  of  all  in  this  form,  they  are  standing  on  their 
feet,  and  spend  no  time  in  raising  themselves  out  of  the 
water,  and  all  the  pastor  has  to  do  is  to  steady  them.  In 
this  way  1  can  manage  a  person  weighing  three  hundred  as 
well  as  one  of  ordinary  size.  I  have  given  this  method  to 
scores  of  ministers  in  Iowa,  including  a  number  of  Baptists, 
and  I  never  found  but  one  who  had  adopted  this  form;  but 
were  very  grateful  for  the  information,  and  ever  adopted  it 
afterwards.  I  give  this  what  I  call  very  interesting  item 
for  the  benefit  of  those  ministers  who  are  ignorant  of  its 
value.  However  we  may  prefer  other  modes  of  baptism 
rather  than  immersion,  as  a  church  we  give  the  candidates 
their  choice.  This  being  the  case,  we  shall  have  this  work 
to  do,  and  this  method  is  such  an  improvement  on  the  old 
that  I  trust  all  Methodist  ministers  may  adopt  it  both  for 
safety  and  convenience.  My  work  being  finished  on  this 
charge,  I  returned  home  greatly  enriched  by  many  newly- 
made  friends  and  interesting  experiences.  I  was  favored 
at  this  time  with  the  assistance  of  three  or  four  local 
preachers  on  Dubuque  circuit,  who  rendered  me  all  the  aid 
within  their  power,  viz:  Simeon  Clark,  Richard  Greenley,  Ira 
Stimson  and  Wm.  Taylor.  The  last  named  was  my  brother, 
recently  from  Ohio.  And  now,  before  taking  leave  of  this 
circuit,  I  must  pause  to  return  my  heartfelt  gratitude  to 
my  divine  Lord  and  Master  for  the  health,  the  divine  power 
and  success  given  me  in  this  amazing  work  of  grace.  And 
thankfully  do  I  call  to  mind  such  names  as  these  among  the 
laymen  who  took  an  active  part  in  its  accomplishment,  viz: 


BISHOP     JANES.  95 

Paul,  Nolan,  Cousin,  Cook,  Greenly,  Taylor,  Johnsons, 
Simpson,  Raw,  Houps,  and  very  many  others  whose  names 
are  written  in  the  "  Book  of  Life"  and  I  think  of  the 
hearty  reception  they  will  give  me  when  I  have  said  the 
last  farewell  to  earth  and  greet  them  upon  immortal  shores. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Our  annual  conference  this  fall  (1849)  was  held  at  Fort 
Madison,  Bishop  Janes  presiding.  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
his  acquaintance  for  several  days,  as  Elder  Reed  conveyed 
us  with  his  carriage  from  his  home  through  the  state  to  the 
seat  of  conference.  He  preached  twice  for  us  by  the  way, 
once  near  Mt.  Vernon,  and  again  in  Iowa  City.  The  first 
from  Romans  xii.  and  1 :  "I  beseech  you,"  etc. ;  and  at  Iowa 
City  from  Acts  ix.  31:  "Then  had  the  churches," 'etc. 
They  were  excellent  sermons,  and  it  gratified  the  people  very 
much-  to  think  that  they  had  been  privileged  to  listen  to  a 
bishop.  Bishop  Janes  was  a  very  pleasant  traveling  com- 
panion, very  genial  and  sociable,  and  no  unprofitable  words 
ever  came  from  his  mouth.  In  every  sense  of  the  word  he 
was  a  model  bishop,  and  in  all  of  his  movements  he  mag- 
nified the  grace  of  God.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  our 
state,  and  in  his  short  stay  he  endeared  himself  to  the 
members  of  our  conference  and  to  the  citizens  of  Fort 
Madison.  His  sermon  on  the  Sabbath  from  u  Who  is  this 
that  cometh  from  Edom,"  etc.,  was  one  of  great  ability  and 
power,  and  many  of  us  yet  living  still  remember  its  salu- 
tary effects.  In  the  very  height  of  feeling — all  captivated 
by  the  power  of  divine  truth,  he  exclaimed:  "Brethren, 
will  you  ever  again  prefer  philosophy  to  the  glorious  gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ!"  In  his  address  to  the  candidates  for 
ordination,  he  made  some  telling  remarks  "  Brethren," 
said  he,  "  some  ministers  are  expecting  that  their  station 


96  THE     P,  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

will  give  them  character,  but  I  will  tell  you  what  is  far  bet- 
ter: labor  to  give  character  to  your  station.  In  the  first 
you  may  fail,  but  in  the  other  never!"  Such  words  as  these 
were  words  of  wisdom,  and  though  thirty-one  years  have 
fled  since  they  were  uttered,  I  can  still  see  his  piercing  eve, 
and  hear  his  shrill  voice  sowing  seed  for  eternity.  H.  W. 
Reed  was  elected  secretary  at  this  session,  with  L.  Taylor 
for  his  assistant.  We  were  favored  with  a  gracious  relig- 
ious influence  during  its  continuance,  and  I  think  as 
u  laborers  with  God"  we  went  out  to  our  charges  with 
increased  zeal  and  a  higher  spiritual  life.  In  the  distri- 
bution of  labor  at  this  conference  I  was  appointed  to 
Dubuque  city,  with  Rev.  John  Harris,  recently  from  Eng- 
land. Brother  Harris  was  a  fine  preacher,  with  a  musical 
voice,  was  a  little  cross-C3red,  possessed  a  vivid  imagination 
and  was  well  read  up  in  the  history  of  the  church.  As  there 
had  existed  some  little  difficulty  in  the  city  between  the 
elder  and  stationed  preacher,  and  this  affecting  other  par- 
ties —  both  having  their  friends,  —  I  did  not  consider  my 
reception  as  cordial  as  I  had  been  accustomed  to  in  my 
appointment  to  a  new  charge.  But  trusting  in  that  Friend 
who  had  never  failed  me,  I  had  no  doubt  but  that  I 
should  be  enabled  to  triumph  before  the  close  of  the  year, 
and  that  all  prejudice  would  give  way  before  the  power  of 
love.  And  thus  I  went  to  work  to  promote  the  interests  of 
the  charge.  One  month  had  not  passed,  before  a  gracious 
reaction  took  place,  and  I  was  raised  above  the  highest 
wave  of  opposing  influences.  In  fact  the  victory  came 
sooner  and  the  triumph  was  greater  than  I  had  expected;  and 
from  this  onward  I  could  realize  in  my  own  religious  con- 
dition what  the  poet  meant  in  this  language: 

"  And  placed  cm  high  above  the  storm's  career, 
Look  doirmrord  tclicre  <(  tJtousiind 


Brother  Harris  being  preacher  in  charge,  and  quite  sen- 
sitive in   relation  to  his  ministerial  rights,  came  in  contact 


REV.     JOHX     HARRIS A     FAMILY     SAVED.         97 

often  with  opposing  forces,  which  at  times  were  not  very 
pleasant;  but  one  of  the  most  strange  and  interesting  fea- 
tures in  the  history  of  this  year,  a  blessed  work  of  grace 
commenced  right  in  the  warmest  and  highest  state  of  the 
difficulty,  and  went  right  on  as  though  it  had  nothing  to 
oppose  it,  and  souls  were  converted  at  every  service.  It  is 
said  that  every  revival  of  religion  has  some  new  feature — 
different  from  others;  and  certainly  this  was  the  case  during 
this  winter.  The  divine  rule  is  that  difficulties  must  be 
adjusted,  enemies  made  friends,  and  old  grudges  buried, 
before  the  Lord  will  come  with  refreshing  and  saving 
power;  but  here  was  joy  and  rejoicing  in  defiance  of  con- 
tention and  strife.  And  thus  it  continued  throughout  the 
most  of  the  winter.  As  near  as  we  could  learn,  about  one 
hundred  souls  were  converted  during  this  meeting. 

And  here  again  a  contrast  was  presented  which  created  a 
deep  and  lasting  impression.  Through  my  solicitation,  a 
family  by  the  name  of  Wright  attended  this  meeting,  and 
Mr.  W.  came  forward  to  the  altar  for  prayers.  During  a 
season  of  great  interest  in  the  services,  he  arose  a  converted 
man.  I  stood  by  his  side  and  saw  the  glow  of  heavenly 
joy  beaming  from  his  countenance,  and  heard  the  offering 
of  praise  from  his  lips.  He  was  not  aware  up  to  this  time 
that  his  family — wife  and  two  daughters — were  bowed  at 
the  same  altar.  Looking  around  in  the  height  of  his  rap- 
ture, he  saw  his  companion  and  two  children  saved  and 
happy  as  well  as  himself,  and  it  almost  overpowered  him, 
and  he  exclaimed:  "  Good  Lord,  the  blessing  has  come  all 
at  once!"  This  was  a  befitting  scene  not  only  for  joy 
among  saints,  but  for  "joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of 
God."  .  Here  was  an  entire  family — all  saved — and  the 
recording  anirel  wrote  their  names  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of 

&          o 

Life  at  the  same  time.  How  different  were  their  feelings  as 
they  returned  home,  from  what  they  were  when  they  came 
to  the  house  of  God.  They  came  burthened  with  a  sense 


98  T  H  E     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  sin,  but  they  returned  rich  with  the  treasures  of  redeem- 
ing love. 

The  other  instance,  occurring  about  the  same  time,  was 
a  young  man  recently  from  the  South,  by  the  name  of  Nutt. 
He  was  what  might  be  called  "  a  f<tst  young  man"  whose 
father  was  quite  wealthy;  and  owning  a  large  number  of 
slaves,  he  had  been  raised  in  idleness,  which  led  to  gam- 
bling and  dissipation.  And  yet  he  was  talented,  of  fine 
appearance,  and  knew  how  to  act  the  part  of  a  gentleman. 
Attending  this  meeting,  he  became  awakened,  came  forward 
to  the  altar  as  a  seeker,  and  professed  saving  faith  through 
the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ.  What  astonishment,  and  yet 
what  rejoicing,  when  his  name  was  enrolled  with  the  people 
of  God.  He  continued  very  fervent  and  faithful  to  duty 
for  several  weeks,  until  he  fell  in  company  with  some  of 
his  former  comrades  in  vice;  was  persuaded  to  take  a  social 
glass,  and  in  doing  this,  opened  the  door  for  further  indul- 
gence. As  he  came  to  himself,  the  sense  of  shame,  and  the 
consciousness  of  having1  disgraced  himself  and  dishonored 
the  church,  bore  upon  his  mind  so  heavily,  that  having  pro- 
cured a  revolver,  he  ascended  to  the  top  of  a  steamboat  at 
the  landing,  and  blew  out  his  brains.  He  was  found  in 
this  condition  soon  after,  with  a  letter  nailed  to  the  boat, 
addressed  to  Ben.  M.  Samuels,  a  member  of  our  church. 
Mr.  Samuels  gave  the  letter  to  me  and  I  preserved  it  a  long 
time.  Had  I  then  known  that  at  some  future  day  I  should 
be  engaged  in  writing  up  this  history,  no  motive  would 
have  induced  me  to  part  with  it.  The  next  day  was  a  sol- 
emn one,  as  the  funeral  services  were  held  in  our  church, 
and  this  closed  up  the  earthly  history  of  that  talented  and 
lamented  youth.  Let  all  who  read  this,  beware  of  such  a 
history  and  fearful  end. 

Through  all  the  history  of  the  past,  in  my  ministerial 
labors  of  over  forty  years,  nothing  has  been  so  detrimental 
and  ruinous  to  the  cause  of  Christ  as  the  liquor  influence. 
It  not  only  hedges  up  the  way  for  doing  good,  but  causes 


PAT,     AND     RAISING     THE     DEAD.  99 

more  backsliding  and  disgrace  to  the  church  than  all  others 
put  together.  An  individual  under  its  influence,  is  mentally 
insane,  and  is  prepared  for  every  shameful  and  abominable 
work;  and  I  am  more  than  ever  convinced  that  both  liquor 
dealing  and  drunkenness  ought  to  be  treated  and  punished 
as  any  other  crime;  and  not.until  the  people  of  these  United 
States,  and  our  law-makers,  regard  it  in  this  light  will  its 
withering^  destroying  influence  come  to  an  end.  There 
seems  to  be  at  the  present  time  an  awakening  up  to  this 
view  of  the  subject,  and  to  the  devoted  women  of  our  land 
all  praise  is  due,  and  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  all  the 
good  should  unite,  as  one  mighty  power,  to  banish  forever 
this  scandal  from  our  race. 

Perhaps  in  no  city  of  the  same  size  in  the  state  of  Iowa 
has  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  so  small  a  membership 
compared  to  its  population,  as  that  of  Dubuque.  This  is 
owing,  doubtless,  to  the  prominence  of  the  Catholic  element. 
This  has  been  for  many  years  the  home  of  the  bishop,  and 
as  a  result,  a  kind  of  center  for  Catholic  power  and  influ- 
ence. Very  few  persons,  unless  they  have  lived  and 
labored  among  them,  are  aware  how  ignorant  they  are  upon 
almost  every  other  subject  save  their  temporal  interests,  and 
devotion  to  their  church.  They  believe  that  their  bishop 
possesses  great  power  on  the  earth,  even  to  the  raising  of 
the  dead  to  life.  As  an  instance,  Mr.  W.,  an  old  citizen 
living  near  the  city,  had  an  Irishman  in  his  employ,  with 
whom  he  had  this  conversation:  "Pat,  you  believe 
that  your  bishop  can  raise  the  dead,  do  you  not?"  "  O, 
yes,  Mr.  W.;  the  bishop  can  raise  the  dead."  "  Well,  Pat, 
if  you  will  get  the  bishop  to  come  down  next  Monday  to 
our  graveyard,  and  do  this,  so  that  I  can  see  it,  you  may  tell 
him  that  I  will  turn  Catholic,  and  at  my  death  I  will  leave  the 
church  all  of  my  property."  Pat  replied,  "I  will  do  it;  I 
will  see  him  to-morrow  morning,  and  be  sure  he'll  come." 
True  to  his  promise,  the  next  morning  found  him  knocking 
at  the  bishop's  door,  anxious  to  deliver  his  message.  He 


100        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

was  invited  into  his  room,  when  he  made  known  to  the 
bishop  Mr.  W.'s  very  generous  proposal.  He  listened  very 
attentively  until  Pat  was  through,  then  he  remarked,  "  Pat, 
don't  you  know  what  the  Bible  says  about  this  matter?  It 
says  that  if  they  will  not  believe  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
n.either  will  they  be  persuaded,  though  one  should  rise  from 
the  dead.  So,  Pat,  you  see  it's  of  no  use."  Poor  Pat  went 
home  greatly  disappointed;  as  Mr.  W.  was  quite  wealthy, 
he  had  hoped  that  he  had  furnished  the  bishop  the  oppor- 
tunity of  catching  a  big  fish,  but  now  all  his  hopes  are 
blasted.  This  he  reported  to  Mr.  W.,  and  I  received  the 
relation  of  facts  from  him.  Was  this  honest?  A  man 
occupying  such  a  high  position  in  the  church,  practicing 
deception  upon  a  poor  Irishman — one  of  his  members — in 
order  that  he  might  still  believe  a  lie?  I  think  that  in  the 
great  day  of  exposition  such  works  will  be  found  among 
the  hay,  wood  and  stubble,  and  the  flames  will  consume 
them. 

In  the  arrangement  of  this  charge  at  the  commencement 
of  the  year,  we  alternated  in  our  preaching,  giving  the  city 
two  sermons  on  the  Sabbath  and  Rockdale  one.  This  being 
my  first  station  in  the  state,  and  there  being  an  able  corps 
of  listeners — if  not  critics — I  had  to  man  up  all  of  my  tal- 
ents in  order  to  edify  and  feed  the  flock.  Here  was  Rev. 
E.  S.  Norris,  who  located  the  last  conference;  Jas.  R.  Good- 
rich, of  the  Rock  River  conference;  Brother  Spaulding,  an 
old  missionary,  and  Brother  Wallace  from  the  Wesleyans — 
all  strong  men;  and  for  a  comparatively  young  minister  to 
interest  and  bless  such  competent  judges  of  divine  truth, 
as  well  as  a  large  force  of  laymen  equally  competent, 
required  every  exertion,  assisted  by  divine  grace.  It  was 
not  long  before  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  by 
increasing  congregations,  and  encouraging  words  from  the 
old  ministers,  that  my  pulpit  efforts  were  appreciated  more 
and  more,  arid  this  inspired  me  with  new  zeal  to  make 
every  new  sermon  "  a  critic  oti  the  last"  and  thus  I  applied 


DEBATE      OK     BAPTISM.  101 

myself  with  similar  results  until  the  close  of  the  year. 
What  knowledge  is  so  valuable  as  that  secured  by  expe- 
rience! In  this  work  of  study,  preparing  for  the  Sabbath 
I  learned  this  important  lesson,  which  may  benefit  those 
just  entering  upon  the  work,  i.  e.,  to  begin  your  preparation 
on  Tuesday  and  continue  up  to  Saturday,  and  let  this  be  a 
review  day,  realizing  that  if  you  make  Saturday  a  day  of 
hard  mental  labor,  the  reaction  will  be  sure  to  meet  you  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  in  many  instances  take  away  the  interest 
from  your  sermon.  How  often  have  I  paid  the  penalty  on 
Sunday  for  excessive  mental  labor  on  Saturday,  and  at  the 
time  did  not  know  the  reason  why.  But  above  all  things, 
"  Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto  God,  a  workman 
that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  wordy 
of  truth." 

Among  the  interests  of  this  year  (1850),  what  is  now  the 
Main  Street  church  was  commenced,  its  foundation  laid, 
and  walls  built  to  a  height  of  several  feet,  which  was  com- 
pleted subsequently  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  F.  W.  Cowles. 
It  has  undergone  several  changes  and  improvements  since 
that  time,  until  it  is  now  a  model  of  church  architecture. 

I  have  neglected  to  notice  one  interesting  event  con- 
nected with  the  many  of  this  conference  year,  without  which 
our  history  would  not  be  full  and  complete.  I  refer  to  the 
debate  between  Mr.  Levan,  a  minister  of  the  Campbellites, 
and  John  C.  Luccock,  a  traveling  preacher  in  the  M.  E. 
church.  The  Rev.  Levan  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings 
in  the  city,  and  in  some  of  his  sermons  he  took  the  oppor- 
tunity to  criticise  and  ridicule  the  altar  exercises  of  our 
church;  defying  any  man  to  controvert  his  assertions  in 
relation  to  baptism.  Our  people  were  so  annoyed  that  they 
concluded  to  send  for  Luccock,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Rock  River  conference.  He  came,  and  the  discussion 
lasted  about  three  days.  The  only  difficulty  in  the  dis- 
cussion was  this,  that  there  was  not  enough  of  Levan  to 
draw  him  out,  and  instead  of  meeting  an  equal,  with  whom 


102  T  H  K    B  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

he  might  measure  swords,  he  found  a  mere  dwarf,  which 
required  him  to  stoop  down  to  find.  I  have  witnessed 
many  debates,  but  this  was  the  most  unequal  contest  within 
the  range  of  my  experience;  yet  it  doubtless  exerted  a  favor- 
able influence  in  promoting  the  interests  of  our  great  revival. 
About  this  time  my  brother,  Harvey  Taylor,  arrived  in  Du- 
buque  from  Ohio,  and  the  following  rpring  took  work  under 
the  presiding  elder  preparatory  to  entering  our  conference. 
The  revival  spirit  still  continued  up  to  the  close  of  the 
year,  at  both  of  our  appointments,  and  our  labors  closed  in 
the  spirit  of  harmony  and  peace.  My  colleague  and  myself 
labored  together  in  the  spirit  of  love,  and  the  work  of  the 
Lord  prospered  in  our  hands.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
names  of  Farley,  Samuels.  Goodrich,  Hetherington,  Ear- 
hart,  Rogers,  Karrick,  Decker,  Waller,  Manson,  Pratt, 
Simpson,  Bonson,  and  in  fact  a  host  of  others  not  named, 
who  held  up  our  hands,  and  whose  prayers  followed  us  as 
we  took  our  final  leave  and  repaired  to  another  field  of 
labor,  to  form  new  friendships  and  gain  new  victories.  This 
is  the  portion  of  the  traveling  preacher.  He  labors  upon 
a  charge  until  the  bonds  of  friendship  and  love  become 
strong;  he  then  bids  them  a  kind  farewell  and  enters  into 
new  relations,  and  goes  forth  to  make  new  history,  and 
before  he  again  returns,  some  precious  spirits  have  been 
released  from  earth  to  enter  into  purer  joys  and  greater 
honors.  But  the  time  of  reunion  will  come  by  and  by, 
when  friends  long  separated  will  embrace  each  other  in 
that  pure  country  where  no  farewell  will  be  heard  nor  tear 
of  regret  ever  flow. 


DAVENPORT    STATION SACRED    HISTORY.     10o 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

We  are  again  on  our  way  to  our  next  annual  conference, 
to  be  held  in  Fairfield,  Jefferson  county.  Rev.  H.  W. 
Reed  has  kindly  proffered  a  seat  in  his  carriage,  and  we  are 
moving  onward  to  the  seat  of  interest.  On  our  way  we  put 
up  at  Brother  Price's,  in  the  city  of  Davenport,  where  the 
elder  is  to  hold  his  last  quarterly  meeting  for  the  present 
year.  It  is  the  last  Saturday  and  Sunday  in  July,  and  the 
mercury  stands  about  one  hundred  above  zero;  but  it  mat- 
ters not,  the  quarterly  meeting  must  be  held  and  the  preach- 
ing must  be  done.  I  was  not  as  well  versed  in  the  policy 
of  presiding  elders  at  that  early  period  as  I  am  now,  or  I 
might  have  suspected  that  he  wished  to  introduce  me  to 
the  people,  in  order  that  they  might  see  how  they  would 
like  their  new  preacher.  But  so  it  was.  I  took  my  turn  in 
the  pulpit  service;  and  the  meeting  passed  off  pleasantly. 
On  Monday  morning,  as  we  were  preparing  to  start,  we 
found  that  our  satchel,  containing  conference  records,  had 
been  stolen.  If  the  thief  had  only  known  that  its  contents 
belonged  to  Methodist  ministers  it  would  have  remained 
undisturbed;  but  he  supposed  that  he  had  seized  a  prize 
until  he  examined  it,  when  lo!  its  principal  wealth  consisted 
in  reports  and  resolutions.  He  was  so  chagrined  and  sold 
when  learning  the  character  of  his  prize,  that  he  threw 
it  into  a  pile  of  brush,  and  it  was  afterward  recovered,  but 
not  until  we  had  suffered  much  inconvenience.  On  our 
way  to  Fairfield,  passing  through  different  pastoral  charges, 
I  was  interested  and  amused  to  see  how  the  elder  was 
labored  with  in  relation  to  the  new  preacher  for  the  coming 
year.  There  happened  to  be  a, peculiar  crisis  in  the  condi- 
tion of  almost  every  circuit,  which  required  a  very  compe- 
tent minister  to  meet,  and  unless  they  were  favored  in  this 
way  the  charge  "would  suffer  yreat  loss."  To  me  it 


104  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

was  quite  singular  that  this  pressure  had  occurred  on 
so  many  works  at  the  same  time,  but  I  could  discover  by  the 
twinkle  of  the  elder's  eye  that  it  was  a  kind  of  philos- 
ophy which  he  perfectly  understood.  I  had  no  charge 
to  present  against  the  persons  so  interested,  when  so  much 
depends  upon  the  character  of  the  man.  It  is  a  great  mis- 
fortune, however,  in  many  instances,  to  the  presiding  elder, 
in  view  of  the  wants  of  the  people,  that  he  has  any  but  No. 
1  preachers  in  his  district.  Very  many  think  that  it  is  quite 
an  elevation  to  be  promoted  to  this  office;  but  when  the 
elder  happens  to  have  two  or  three  preachers  on  his  work, 
ambitious  to  have  the  best  appointments,  whilst  at  the  same 
time  the  people  desire  some  one  else,  the  position  is  not  so 
enviable  after  all;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  all  their  crosses 
and  embarrassments,  very  few  among  us  seem  to  think  that 
it  is  a  "punishment  greater  than  we  can  bear"  I  have 
been  persuaded,  for  many  years,  that  the  church  is  not 
always  as  prudent  in  receiving  applicants  for  the  ministry 
as  the  necessities  of  the  case  require.  Many  times,  through 
the  influence  of  friends,  or  personal  favor,  young  men  are 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  admitted  to  conference, 
who,  as  subsequent  experience  proves,  have  no  qualifications 
for  the  work;  and  now  it  is  hard  to  remedy  what  might  have 
been  avoided.  Better  close  the  door  than  suffer  the  penalty. 

ri  must  give  you  a  little  scrap  of  history  right  in  point.  On 
one  of  my  charges,  not  far  from  this  date,  there  lived  one 
of  those  uneasy  spirits,  applying  every  year  for  license  to 
preach,  and  growling  and  whining  that  he  was  oppressed  by 
the  "brethren."  We  gave  him  a  permit  to  try  his  hand 
once;  then  if  he  succeeded  well  he  had  the  promise  of  a 
hearing  in  the  church.  His  appointment  was  about  six 
miles  from  home,  had  been  well  circulated,  and  at  the 
appointed  time  the  log  school-house  was  filled  with  curious 
and  interested  listeners.  As  to  the  merits  of  the  sermon,  I 
cannot  state;  but  something  may  be  gathered  in  relation 
thereto,  by  the  closing  exercises.  Before  dismissal,  one 


CONFERENCE H.     C.     DEAN.  105 

of  the  audience  arose  and  stated  that  he  thought  it  too 
much  for  a  man  of  such  splendid  abilities  to  come  so  far 
and  give  his  time  without  some  remuneration;  and  he 
therefore  made  a  motion  to  take  up  a  collection  for  his 
especial  benefit.  The  motion  was  approved,  two  hats  were 
passed  around  and  the  contents  very  politely  presented  to 
the  new  preacher,  when  lo!  buttons,  chips,  pebbles,  and 
quids  of  tobacco,  all  came  in  for  a  share  to  assist  in  com- 
pensating the  speaker  for  his  very  valuable  services.  I 
suppose  after  this  effort  no  one  doubted  but  that  he  had 
"gifts  and  graces"  This  was  a  kind  of  quietus,  which 
cooled  off  his  ardent  zeal  and  closed  up  his  labors  for  that 
year.  He  afterward  emigrated  to  Indiana,  but  whether  his 
call  was  renewed  in  after  life  I  never  learned,  yet  I  doubt 
not  he  long  remembered  his  first  sermon  and  liberal  collec- 
tion on circuit.  In  this  case  the  remedy  was  fitted  to 

the  disease  and  met  it  effectually;  but  whilst  there  are 
some  extreme  cases  of  this  kind,  very  many  timid  and 
humble  young  men,  had  they  a  little  encouragement  from 
the  pastor,  might  render  valuable  services  to  the  church  as 
heralds  of  divine  truth,  who  through  lack  of  this  influence 
content  themselves  in  a  more  humble  relation.  My  readers 
will  pardon  me  for  this  digression  and  return  with  me  to  the 
seat  of  our  annual  conference. 

Here  we  met  Bishop  Hamline,  who  was  in  feeble  health. 
His  personal  appearance  was  quite  different  from  that  when 
he  presided  at  Muscatine,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  he  attended  to  the  duties  of  his  office.  At  this  session 
the  writer  was  elected  secretary,  with  George  H.  Jennison 
for  his  assistant.  The  conference  records  not  at  hand,  as 
noticed  above,  we  proceeded  as  best  we  could.  This  was 
our  first  introduction  to  Henry  Clay  Dean,  who  was  intro- 
duced to  the  brethren  and  was  appointed  to  preach  on 
Tuesday  night  preceding  the  session.  He  preached  an  elo- 
quent sermon,  and  many  qf  the  brethren  were  elated  that 
we  had  such  a  valuable  accession  to  our  ranks.  As  this 


100  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

was  my  first  experience  as  secretary,  the  bishop,  as  well  as 
Elder  Reed,  was  very  kind  in  rendering  me  all  the  assist- 
ance I  needed.  The  citizens  of  Fairfield  did  everything 
within  their  power  to  entertain  the  conference,  and  we  were 
favored  with  a  good  religious  influence.  The  reports  of  the 
brethren  from  the  different  charges  were  very  favorable  in 
the  increase  of  members  to  the  church,  and  our  borders 
were  greatly  enlarged.  On  Monday  the  appointments  were 
read,  and  within  a  short  space  of  time  these  messengers  of 
mercy  were  making  good  speed  toward  their  new  fields  of 
labor.  My  field  of  labor  was  Davenport  station,  filled  the 
year  previous  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Kelly,  who  was  now  stationed 
at  Rockdale,  Dubuque  district.  Brother  Kelly  was  a  trans- 
fer from  Indiana  to  ours,  reaching  Iowa  in  the  fall  of  1848. 
He  was  a  very  good  preacher,  a  fine  singer,  genial  and 
pleasant  in  all  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men,  and  had 
an  incident  and  a  joke  for  almost  every  occasion.  He  labored 
for  many  years  in  Iowa,  when,  his  health  failing,  he  took  a 
superannuated  relation,  and  is  now  living  near  the  city  of 
Dubuque. 

The  introduction  of  a  minister  to  a  new  charge  is  attended 
with  a  peculiar  interest.  He  has  a  history  to  make,  and  the 
question  arises,  will  that  history  be  a  failure  or  a  success. 
This  question  is  not  only  of  interest  to  himself,  but  to  the 
people  for  whose  welfare  he  has  come  to  labor.  Such  were 
my  impressions  as  I  reached  this  young  and  growing  city, 
and  commenced  the  labors  of  the  year.  But  among  the 
things  unknown,  of  one  thing  I  was  certain,  that  the  same 
Almighty  power  which  had  attended  my  labors  in  the  past 
would  not  fail  me  in  Davenport.  Yea,  I  felt  this  assurance, 
that  no  enterprise  could  fail  with  God  to  back  it.  With 
this  faith  I  entered  upon  its  labors,  knowing  that  I  should 
find  as  willing  hands  and  warm  hearts  in  this  station  as  I 
found  in  my  former  charge.  Rev.  Alcinous  Young,  the  pre- 
siding elder  of  Davenport  district,  having  chosen  this  place 
for  his  home,  would  make  it  still  more  pleasant  for  the  pas- 


GREAT      REVIVAL.  107 

tor  in  his  relation  to  the  work.  But  a  few  weeks  had 
elapsed  when  the  elder  wished  me  to  assist  him  at  a  quar- 
terly meeting  on  an  adjoining  work,  at  Cooper's  chapel. 
The  meeting  continued  for  three  or  four  weeks,  during 
which  time  I  labored  constantly,  and  it  resulted  in  the  sal- 
vation of  many  souls.  Brother  Young  and  Rev.  James 
Gilruth,  visiting  the  city,  filled  my  place  whilst  I  was  labor- 
ing in  the  country.  I  felt  the  more  inclined  to  assist  at  this 
revival,  as  it  commenced  under  my  labors,  and  Rev.  B. 
Swearingen,  the  preacher  of  the  circuit  at  that  time,  being 
young  and  inexperienced  in  work  of  this  kind.  I  saw  at 
this  meeting  what  I  never  saw  before  or  since — a  husband 
and  wife  at  the  altar  for  prayers,  the  one  eighty  and  the 
other  seventy-six;  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  both  professed 
conversion  the  same  night.  It  is  such  a  rare  occurrence  to 
see  aged  persons  embrace  religion,  that  this  scene  possessed 
an  interest  beyond  the  power  of  language  to  describe. 
Truly  this  awakening  was  a  wonderful  work  of  grace,  and 
caused  one  of  the  citizens  of  the  community  to  think  that 
the  millennium  was  near  at  hand.  The  history  of  Sabbath 
evening,  the  second  week  of  the  meeting,  will  be  remem- 
bered not  only  in  time,  but  in  eternity.  Such  was  the  mani- 
festation of  divine  power  that  it  seemed  all  hearts  must 
yield  to  its  influence.  At  the  highest  interest  I  was  re- 
quested to  go  out  into  the  congregation  and  see  if  I  could 
not  induce  a  man  and  his  wife  to  come  to  the  place  for 
prayer.  I  went,  and  after  some  solicitation  I  prevailed 
upon  them  to  come  forward.  In  a  few  minutes  they  were 
both  converted  and  happy.  I  then  made  an  effort  to  induce 
another  to  take  the  same  step  who  was  under  very  deep 
conviction.  I  used  every  motive  of  persuasion  within  my 
power,  but  failed;  the  only  promise  which  I  secured  was 
that  he  would  come  forward  to-morrow  night.  The  meeting 
of  that  evening  closed  with  the  most  glorious  results. 
About  twenty  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and  Zion  shouted 
aloud  for  joy.  Monday  evening  came,  and  I  looked  anx- 


108  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

iously  for  my  friend  whose  pledge  I  had  taken,  but  he  was 
not  there.  Tuesday  night  came,  but  he  was  not  present; 
and  finally  the  revival  services  closed  and  we  saw  him  no 
more.  Shall  I  relate  the  history?  The  same  night  that  he 
went  home  from  that  meeting  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill, 
lived  a  few  days  in  great  misery,  and  died,  giving  no  evi- 
dence to  his  friends  that  his  end  was  peace.  When  T 
learned  his  fate,  how  forcibly  did  this  truth  come  to  my 
mind:  "He  that  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck, 
shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy." 
Here  were  two  persons,  labored  with  by  the  same  minister, 
enjoying  the  same  means  of  grace:  the  one  improved  them 
and  was  saved,  the  other  rejected  them  and  was  lost.  I 
may  add  that  the  first  died  triumphant  during  the  year,  and 
I  was  called  to  attend  the  memorial  services.  Such  is  the 
history  of  human  life.  "  Blessed  is  that  man  who  maketh 
the  Lord  his  trust." 

During  the  progress  of  this  labor,  our  presiding  elder 
with  his  family  moved  into  the  parsonage,  and  I  was  invited 
to  make  his  house  my  home.  This  I  gladly  accepted,  and  I 
could  not  have  felt  any  more  contented  and  happy  in  my 
own  father's  house.  Sister  Young  was  truly  a  "  mother  in 
Israel,"  of  strong  faith,  very  able  in  prayer  and  in  exhorta- 
tion, and  all  alive  to  the  interests  of  religion.  Very  few 
females  of  my  acquaintance  combined  so  much  Bible 
knowledge  and  Christian  devotion  as  Sister  Young,  and  in 
our  prayer-meetings  her  presence  was  always  like  an  angel 
of  blessing;  and  how  did  her  prayers  and  influence  inspire 
me  with  new  faith  and  courage  during  all  of  my  labors  in 
this  charge!  In  fact,  in  this  station  we  were  peculiarly 
favored  "with  honorable  women  not  a  few"  and  the  spirit 
of  revival  commenced  with  the  services  of  the  new  year. 
The  names  of  the  brethren  at  that  time  who  stood  up 
squarely  by  my  side  in  every  good  work  are  quite  familiar 
to  many  of  the  members  of  our  conference.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  them  are  still  living,  but,  like  the  writer,  the  "almond 


RUNNING     FOR     THE     ALTAR.  109 

tree"  is  in  the  blossom  and  their  movements  are  not  quite 
so  rapid  as  they  were  thirty  years  ago.  Hiram  Price,  Rev. 
Wm.  Burris,  Rufus  Ricker,  Wm.  Cook,  Israel  Hall,  and 
some  others,  not  named,  were  then  young  men,  just  entered 
upon  the  practical  interests  of  life.  But  a  few  more  years, 
all  that  will  remain  will  be — like  that  of  Brother  Morton — 
a  record  of  the  past;  yet  it  is  pleasant  to  call  up  those  old 
reminiscences  and  friendships  of  days  gone  by,  and  enjoy 
the  short  luxury  of  living  fife  over  again.  Our  revival 
during  the  first  winter  was  not  as  rapid  as  it  had  been  in 
some  of  my  former  charges,  but  it  was  progressive,  and  a 
large  number  found  peace  in  believing.  There  was  one 
new  feature  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  former  revival,  and  as 
I  never  be-fore  witnessed  it,  I  will  give  it  a  place  in  this 
history. 

During  a  season  of  unusual  interest,  one  evening  I  opened 
the  doors  of  the  church,  and  very  soon  I  saw  an  individual 
crowding  his  way  out  of  the  slip,  and  as  soon  as  he  reached 
the  aisle  he  started  for  the  altar  where  I  stood  upon  the  run. 
I  had  before  witnessed  thousands  fleeing  from  the  domin- 
ions of  Satan  to  Jesus  for  refuge,  but  this  was  the  first  iri- 
stance  of  "flying  for  life"  with  such  speed.  It  reminded  me 
of  the  young  man  in  the  Gospel  who  came  rttnning  to  the 
Saviour  inquiring  what  he  "  should  do  to  inherit  eternal 
life."  In  a  subsequent  conversation  in  reference  to  it, 
when  I  asked  him  why  he  ran,  he  answered,  "  I  felt  that  I 
had  not  one  moment  to  spare."  Oh,  if  all  who  unite  with 
us  in  church  fellowship  were  as  ripe  for  duty  as  this  brother 
there  would  be  no  necessity  of  urging  them  to  take  one 
step  in  the  path  of  life. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year  Rufus  Ricker,  a  member 
and  steward  of  this  station,  had  an  interview  with  me  in 
reference  to  his  entering  the  ministerial  work.  He  in- 
formed me  that  up  to  that  time,  though  he  had  felt  it  to  be 
his  duty,  and  presented  it  to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
he  had  received  but  little  encouragement.  I  gave  him  the 


110  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

best  counsel  within  my  power,  and  he  went  to  work  pre- 
paring for  the  openings  of  divine  providence.  His  case 
was  presented  to  the  quarterly  conference,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  year  I  had  heard  his  first  sermon,  and  he  was 
recommended  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  admitted  into  the 
annual  conference.  In  doing  this  I  was  aware  that  I  should 
lose  a  good  faithful  brother  from  my  charge,  "but  what 
was  I,  that  I  could  withstand  God."  If  He  had  a  work  for 
him  to  do,  with  all  of  my  preferences  I  must  stand  aside. 
At  the  ensuing  annual  conference,  held  in  Davenport,  he 
was  admitted  on  trial,  and  now  he  is  in  his  thirty-first  year 
in  the  traveling  connection.  God  has  blessed  his  efforts  on 
almost  every  field  of  labor,  and  in  the  coming  day  he  will 
share  a  rich  reward.  This  is  one  act  of  my  life  which  I  trust 
I  shall  never  have  cause  to  regret.  It  was  at  the  com- 
mencement of  this  conference  year  that  the  Miss  Gilruths 
opened  a  seminary  for  the  education  of  young  ladies,  which 
continued  until  the  death  of  Harriet,  the  elder  sister.  She 
went  to  Ohio  to  visit  her  relatives,  was  taken  sick  with  the 
cholera,  and  died  within  a  few  hours.  So  ends  the  history 
of  human  hopes. 

It  has  been  wisely  said  that  "  coming  events  cast  their 
shadows  before,"  and  this  is  true  in  the  history  of  coming 
men.  It  might  have  seemed  quite  improbable  to  very 
many  at  that  date,  that  Hiram  Price,  filling  the  office  of 
class-leader  in  the  church,  and  recorder  of  Scott  county, 
just  starting  out  to  make  history  as  a  public  man,  would, 
within  thirty  years,  fill  so  many  positions  of  honor  and 
public  trust  as  have  been  conferred  upon  him.  But  the  ele- 
ments  were  there,  and  required  only  the  occasion  to  bring 
them  into  exercise.  His  unswerving  fidelity  to  duty,  his 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  temperance  and  every  good  work,  his 
detestation  of  everything  little  and  mean,  combined  with 
unusual  business  ability,  and  an  excellent  companion  to  aid 
him — all  these  were  the  shadows  or  precursors  of  the  com- 
ing man.  And  I  am  glad  that  a  kind  Providence  raises  up 


GREAT     WORK     IN     MUSCATINE.  Ill 

here  and  there  such  a  man  to  honor  the  church  and  bless 
the  world.  Very  few  know  him  better  than  the  writer,  and 
perhaps  few  appreciate  him  more.  When  the  time  conies 
that  his  full  record  shall  be  written  up  for  both  worlds^  I 
trust  that  in  capital  letters  Success  shall  be  written  in  the 
beginning  and  at  the  end.  In  my  brief  tribute  to  the 
prominent  men  in  Davenport  at  this  time  (1850),  I  acknowl- 
edge with  gratitude  the  services  of  Rev.  Win.  Burris,  a 
graduate  from  Lane  seminary,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  who  stood 
by  my  side  as  a  true  and  faithful  friend.  He  was  a  good 
preacher,  of  easy  address;  kindness  and  cheerfulness  were 
written  all  over  his  face,  and  his  presence  contributed 
greatly  to  our  social  interests.  A  short  time  after  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  received  a  position  in 
Washington  City,  and  resides  there  at  the  present  time. 
Wm.  Cook,  afterward  Judge  Cook,  was  one  of  the  first 
pioneers  in  and  around  the  city,  and  still  takes  great  pleas- 
ure in  relating  many  of  its  stirring  incidents  and  experi- 
ences. He  was  a  member  of  the  first  class  organized  here, 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  class-leader  or  steward  in  the  M. 
E.  church  over  forty  years.  He  is  now  looking  with  much 
pleasure  toward  his  enduring  home.  I  know  of  no  man 
who  takes  more  enjoyment  in  singing  such  stanzas  as  the 
following  than  Judge  Cook: 

"  The  Lord  has  promised  good  to  me, 

His  word  my  hope  secures, 
He  will  my  shield  and  portion  be 
As  long  as  life  endures." 

About  this  time  a  "Macedonian  cry"  came  up  from  Mus- 
catine.  Rev.  Wm.  Hurlburt  being  stationed  in  that  city, 
wished  me  to  come  and  assist  him  in  a  series  of  meetings. 
The  presiding  elder  being  very  anxious  for  me  to  go,  and 
promising  that  he  would  be  responsible  for  my  appoint- 
ments on  the  Sabbath,  I  went,  and  remained  two  weeks. 
The  first  week  of  the  services  the  work  of  grace  com- 


112  THE      BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

menced  in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  and  the  entire  village 
seemed  moved  under  its  influence.  On  the  Sabbath  1 
preached  from  ';  The  great  salvation,"  and  in  no  one 
instance  in  mv  life — seemingly — with  greater  effect.  At 
one  period  in  the  sermon,  such  was  the  remarkable  power 
of  the  Spirit  attending  it,  that  some  rose  to  their  feet 
unconscious  of  the  act.  In  the  evening,  my  text  was, 
"  Son,  remember,"  etc.,  and  when  the  offer  was  presented 
for  seekers  to  come  forward,  I  never  witnessed  such  a 
scene.  Every  nook  and  corner  of  the  house  was  filled  with 
the  vast  crowd;  and  yet  they  pressed  their  way  to  the  altar 
by  scores.  It  was  supposed  that  fifty  persons  were  present. 
It  was  a  night  never  to  be  forgotten  for  deep  convictions 
and  clear  conversions.  The  meeting  continued  with  una- 
bating  interest  all  through  the  week  following,  when  duty 
called  me  to  return  to  my  charge.  The  pastor,  Mr.  Hurl- 
burt,  reported  at  the  close  of  this  revival,  near  one  hundred 
who  had  consecrated  themselves  to  God. 

At  this  meeting  I  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  worthy 
and  devoted  sister  of  that  station,  who  gave  me  a  very 
touching  and  remarkable  fact,  illustrating  God's  care  and 
faithfulness  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  his  children.  The 
history  occurred  in  her  own  family.  As  I  know  that  it  will 
interest  others  as  well  as  myself,  I  give  the  incident  as  she 
related  it  to  me.  It  was  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1812. 
Her  father  having  fallen  in  battle,  her  mother  was  left  a 
widow,  with  several  small  children,  and  very  little  subsist- 
ence. Crops  having  failed  also  that  year,  to  a  great  extent, 
and  the  winter  severe,  they  found  themselves  reduced  to 
the  last  loaf  of  bread.  The  mother  divided  this  among  the 
children  for  supper,  and  they  retired  to  rest  without  a 
particle  of  food  for  the  coming  day.  The  prayers  of  that 
mother,  however,  were  overheard  by  this  daughter — who 
gave  me  this  relation — through  the  night,  pleading  God's 
promises,  that  if  the  little  sparrows  "  were  not  forgotten 
before  him,  that  he  would  remember  the  widow  and  the 


CONFERENCE  AT  DAVENPORT.         113 

orphan  in  this  the  hour  of  their  extremity."  The  morning 
came,  the  fire  was  built,  but  no  bread  nor  meat  for  their 
morning  meal.  About  sunrise  there  was  a  knock  at  the 
door.  A  farmer  entered  who  lived  about  one  mile  distant, 
called  very  penurious  in  his  dealings — and  after  taking  his 
seat  inquired  of  the  mother  if  there  was  anything  peculiar 
in  the  condition  of  their  family;  that  all  through  the  night 
he  had  been  so  troubled  about  them  that  he  could  not 
sleep;  and  with  this  last  expression  the  tears  ran  down  his 
cheeks.  He  stated  further,  that  he  had  come  in  this  early 
morn,  that  if  they  were  wanting  in  anything  for  their 
family  in  the  way  of  provisions  they  should  be  provided 
for.  The  facts  were  all  made  known  to  the  farmer;  their 
wants  were  supplied,  and  the  faithful  widowed  mother 
lived  many  years  afterward,  and  never  neglected  to  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  her  children  that  the  "  Righteous  are 
never  forsaken."  I  would  here  state  that  I  have  occupied 
more  space  in  writing  up  my  first  year's  labors  on  this 
charge  than  usual,  because  it  was  one  of  much  interest. 
As  our  annual  conference  was  to  convene  in  Davenport,  it 
required  no  little  labor  to  "provide  places  for  the  members 
and  visitors  to  our  conference.  But  in  a  short  time  this 
work  was  completed;  and  in  August,  from  every  part  of  the 
state,  were  to  be  seen  these  hardy  pioneers  flocking  into 
our  young  and  growing  city.  Bishop  Waugh  arrived  the 
week  previous  and  was  at  Brother  Price's  waiting  the 
reception  of  his  brethren.  The  only  peculiar  feature 
attending  this  session  was  this:  The  weather  was  very  hot. 
Among  the  many  ministers  arriving,  whom  should  I  greet 
but  my  brother,  James  Taylor,  a  member  of  the  Rock  River 
conference.  I  had  not  seen  him  for  many  years,  and  I 
greeted  him  with  the  warmth  of  a  brother.  But  I  hardly 
knew  him.  He  looked  lank  and  worn,  his  countenance  not 
natural.  In  my  surprise  I  said:  "  James,  what  in  the  world 
is  the,  matter?"  Before  answering — as  he  doubtless  felt 
the  pressure  of  the  question — I  answered  for  him.  James. 
0 


114  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

it  is  the  excessive  use  of  tobacco  that  has  done  this  work. 
He  acknowledged  it;  said  he  had  been  hard  at  work  in  his 
conference  studies  and  had  used  it  to  stimulate  him.  He 
then  took  from  his  pocket  the  last  he  had,  cast  it  to  the 
earth,  and  said,  "Farewell,  forever."  I  will  tell  you  the 
result  in  the  next  chapter,  as  I  must  now  provide  for  the 
preachers  coming  in  from  their  fields  of  labor.  At  the 
commencement  of  this  session  Rev.  J.  G.  Dimmett  was 
elected  secretary,  and,  I  think,  Michael  Hare  assistant. 
Among  our  visitors  we  were  introduced  to  Mr.  Dela/on 
Smith,  who  had  recently  renounced  infidelity,  embraced 
religion,  and  had  united  with  the  M.  E.  church.  An  after- 
noon was  set  apart  for  him  to  lecture,  and  he  occupied 
some  two  or  three  hours  showing  up  the  workings  of  skep- 
ticism in  a  masterly  manner.  His  speech  and  concurring 
testimony  contributed  much  to  the  interest  of  our  session. 
On  Saturday  afternoon,  after  a  practical  sermon  by  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Rock  River  conference,  we  were  favored  with 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  visitations  of  the  Spirit  in  our 
conference  history.  Strong  men  who  had  never  quailed, 
were  prostrated  by  its  mighty  power,  and  its  influence  con- 
tinued nearlv  two  hours.  It  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
a  Pentecostal  visitation,  and  the  old  brick  church  resounded 
with  the  praises  of  God.  The  session  continued  until  Mon- 
day— Bishop  Waugh  endearing  himself  to  all  the  brethren 
— the  appointments  were  read,  and  then  every  man  for  him- 
self. In  a  very  short  time  the  city  was  as  quiet  as  though 
no  new  history  had  been  made.  This  is  history  repeated 
every  year,  and  notwithstanding  its  repetition,  it  seems  to 
lose  none  of  its  oharms.  And  thus  winds  up  the  history  of 
my  labors  in  Davenport  station  for  the  first  year. 


DAVEXPO11T    STATION YEAR    OF     JUBILEE.    115 


CHAPTER    XX. 

As  I  had  expected,  I  was  returned  to  Davenport,  and 
now  begin  the  labors  and  responsibilities  of  a  new  year. 
In  starting  out  upon  its  history  I  have  decidedly  the  advan- 
tage of  the  past,  inasmuch  as  I  am  now  acquainted  with  the 
people  and  they  are  acquainted  with  me,  and  nothing  is 
wanting  but  to  go  to  work  to  promote  the  interests  of  the 
church.  In  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  during  the 
first  quarter,  I  preached  a  series  of  sermons  designed  to 
promote  the  attainment  of  a  higher  spiritual  life,  accom- 
panied with  a  prayer-meeting  on  Tuesday  evening  to  aid  in 
its  success;  and  from  that  date  the  work  seemed  to  take 
new  inspiration,  and  continued  through  the  year  without 
the  least  abatement.  Such  was  its  influence,  that  some 
persons  came  to  me  and  asked  for  the  benefit  of  our  prayers 
and  admission  to  the  church.  It  reminded  me  of  ancient 
times,  when  the  people  said:  "  We  will  go  with  you,  for  we 
have  heard  that  God  is  with  you."  Among  the  number 
embracing  religion  at  this  time  were  Miss  Pauline  Gilruth, 
Miss  Mary  Price,  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Stephenson.  Miss  Gilruth  is 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Kynett,  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
u  Board  of  Church  Extension;"  Miss  Price  became  the  wife 
of  Robert  L.  Collier,  a  member  of  our  conference,  then 
stationed  at  Davenport,  and  Mrs.  Stephenson  still  lives  in 
the  city,  an  ornament  to  the  church.  Sister  Collier  was  a 
model  Christian  lady,  but  her  work  is  done,  and  her  home 
is  among  the  pure  above.  So  far  as  "the  influence  of  divine 
grace  is  concerned  within  the  church,  this  may  be  set  down 
as  the  crowning  year  of  my  ministerial  life.  It  was  noth- 
ing more  nor  less  than  a  little  heaven  "  on  earth  begun ;"  and 
as  above  stated,  there  was  no  declension  during  the  year.  If 
I  were  asked  to  account  for  this  state  of  religious  pros- 
perity, instrumentally  at  least,  I  would  say  that  it  was  in 


f 


116  T  H  E     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

erecting  a  high  spiritual  standard,  and  then  living  up  to  its 
demands.  My  long  experience  has  proved  to  me — and 
this  is  the  Bible  rule — that  results  will  be  glorious  in  ratio 
to  our  faith;  for  the  stream  never  rises  above  the  fountain. 
If  we  have  strong  faith,  our  courage,  our  efforts,  our  power 
with  men  will  be  in  like  proportion,  and  thus  our  success; 
but  if  we  have  no  faith,  we  have  no  courage;  we  put  forth 
no  effort,  and  of  course  nothing  is  accomplished.  I  once 
saw  this  scriptural  rule  so  beautifully  and  so  forcibly  illus- 
trated that  I  will  here  give  it  in  brief.  Two  boys,  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  started  to  the  pasture  one  evening  to 
drive  home  the  cows.  There  was  a  stream  to  cross,  spanned 
by  a  small  log — and  as  the  recent  shower  had  raised  the 
creek,  the  crossing  appeared  a  little  dangerous.  Said  John 
to  Charles,  "I  can  cross  that  log;"  and  as  faith  always 
inspires  courage — no  sooner  said,  than  over  he  went,  and 
waited  for  his  companion.  Charles  came  up  to  it  and 
looked,  and  began  to  doubt,  and  as  doubting  always  begets 
fear,  he  faltered,  backed  out  and  returned  home.  John 
brought  the  cows  home  and  was  rewarded  with  success. 
Now,  what  was  the  overcoming  element  in  this  case? — 
about  the  same  age,  apparently  about  the  same  physical 
strength,  and  both  of  fair  talent.  My  reader  answers: 
"John  \\&&  faith  and  Charles  had  none,"  and  here  was  the 
difference.  And  this  little  incident  in  its  practical  lesson 
will  account  for  the  differences — in  a  good  measure — in 
the  success  of  men  and  women  in  every  department  of 
human  life.  Many  professed  Christians  have  faith,  provid- 
ing the  circumstances  are  favorable  in  the  advance.  Charles 
would  have  had  no  difficulty  in  this  case  if  there  had  been 
a  good  hand-railing  across  the  log;  but  for  want  of  this  his 
inspiration  was  gone.  I  must  here  give  one  of  the  most 
striking  scraps  of  history  to  show  up  this  faith  of  favorable 
circumstances,  within  my  knowledge.  And  as  the  fact 
occurred  here,  it  will  be  right  in  point.  And  though  a 
few  of  my  brethren  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference  have 


FAITH     W  El  E  X     THE     HARNESS     IS     GONE.          117 

hoard  the  relation  in  some  of  my  sermons,  it  is  as  true 
and  pertinent  notwithstanding.  A  devoted  minister 
living  in  this  city,  like  many  others,  had  his  seasons  of 
doubt  and  depression,  which  often  affected  his  personal 
enjoyment.  His  companion  was  just  the  reverse,  and  often 
chided  him  for  his  want  of  faith  in  God  when  the  promises 
were  so  full  and  free.  Being  on  a  visit  to  a  neighbor's  one 
afternoon,  there  came  up  a  heavy  shower  of  rain,  and  on 
their  return  home,  the  roads  had  been  gullied  out  by  the 
running  water.  Descending  a  steep  hill,  the  wife  expressed 
her  fears  in  relation  to  their  safe  descent.  And  now  it  was 
his  turn  to  exhort  her  in  reference  to  her  lack  of  faith.  Said 
her  husband:  "  Can't  you  have  faith  in  God  in  going  down 
this  hill  as  well  as  anywhere?"  etc.  "  O,  yes,"  she  said;  "  I 
can  trust  God  whilst  the  h'arness  holds,  but  if  the  harness 
breaks  I  don't  know  what  will  become  of  us."  Through 
subsequent  years,  I  have  had  much  to  do  with  this  kind  of 
faith  based  upon  the  strength  of  the  harness,  reaching  no 
further  than  favorable  appearances,  instead  of  relying  upon 
the  great  and  precious  promises  of  the  gospel. 

"  'Tis  mighty  faith  the  promise  sees, 

And  looks  to  that  alone ; 
Laughs  at  impossibilities, 
And  cries  It  shall  be  done!'1'' 

Perhaps  it  was  to  administer  a  word  in  season  to  these 
pleasant-day  and  smooth-road  professors  of  religion,  that 
Brother  Price's  local  preacher  came  to  Davenport  in  its 
early  history.  His  text  was:  "  Wherefore,  the  rather, 
brethren,  give  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and  election 
sure,"  etc.  The  burden  of  his  discourse  was  to  show  the 
peculiar  traits  of  those  rather-brethren,  and  if  any  of  this 
class  above  referred  to  were  there,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
they  came  in  for  a  share.  It  requires  considerable  credulity 
to  believe  that  an  authorized  minister  of  the  gospel  should 
be  so  ignorant  as  to  impose  upon  sensible  people  in  this 
way,  but  I  suppose  he  belonged  to  the  same  class  and  had 


118  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

his  call  about  the  same  time  of  that  brother  in  Ohio,  men- 
tioned in  a  former  chapter,  who  received  such  a  liberal  col- 
lection, and  as  he  emigrated  West,  he  might  have  pitched 
his  tent  near  the  young  city,  and  this  may  have  been  his 
second  sermon,  minus  the  collection.  But  whilst  we  may 
smile  over  those  rather-brethren,  the  blunder  is  no  worse 
than  one  in  our  own  day.  His  subject  that  evening  was: 
"Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin?  or  the  leopard  his 
spots?"  When  he  came  to  the  leopard,  he  entertained  his 
congregation  with  a  short  history  of  the  leprosy;  how  it 
broke  out  in  spots,  which  no  human  power  could  change  or 
remedy,  and  then  the  application  to  the  sinner  was  sharp 
and  forcible.  Being  stationed  near  the  place  where  this 
wonderful  sermon  was  preached,  I  received  it  fresh  from 
the  pulpit.  After  such  expositions  as  I  have  here  presented, 
should  we  not  be  more  careful  in  saving  the  interests  of  the 
Christian  religion  from  such  reproach? 

Henry  Clay  Dean  this  year  was  stationed  in  Muscatine, 
and  wrote  me  again  and  again  this  winter  (1852),  to  assist 
him  in  his  protracted  meeting  in  that  city.  Having  some 
knowledge  of  the  man,  I  declined  to  go  until  I  received  a 
letter  from  the  official  board  urging  me  to  come,  and  Elder 
Young  being  very  anxious,  I  went,  intending  to  stay  two 
weeks.  The  time  having  expired,  the  last  night  of  the  ser- 
vices was  such  that  I  consented  to  stay  one  week  longer. 
On  that  night  I  witnessed  what  I  never  saw  before — twenty- 
five  young  men  at  the  altar  for  prayers,  and  not  one  female 
or  aged  person.  You  will  not  be  surprised  that  I  con- 
sented, with  such  a  motive,  to  remain  a  while  longer.  The 
meeting  continued  with  such  increasing  interest  through 
this  week  also,  that  I  was  no  nearer  ready  to  return  home 
than  the  week  previous,  so  I  remained  another  week,  mak- 
ing four  weeks  in  all.  I  consented  to  this  as  my  presiding 
elder  agreed  to  see  my  pulpit  supplied  in  Davenport.  At 
'[an  interesting  period  of  our  meeting  an  intelligent  young 
f  man  came  to  me  for  counsel  as  to  what  he  should  do  to  be 


TRIUMPHANT  DEATH  OF  MRS.  BORLAND.  119 

saved.  Learning  his  history  and  convictions,  I  advised 
him  to  arise  in  the  congregation  just  assembling,  declare 
his  purposes,  and  in  that  act  consecrate  himself  to  the  Lord, 
and  I  believed  he  would  be  blessed  before  he  sat  down. 
In  a  few  ininutes  the  meeting  opened,  and  at  a  proper  time 
he  arose  to  his  feet.  He  strictly  followed  my  advice,  and 
in  expressing  his  purpose  to  devote  all  of  his  powers  to  the 
service  of  God,  then  and  forever,  the  blessing  came,  stand- 
ing on  his  feet;  and  as  he  was  naturally  eloquent,  I  hardly 
ever  witnessed  such  a  moving  effect.  Being  a  young  man 
of  good  standing,  and  well  known  in  the  community,  his 
conversion  was  the  savor  of  life  to  many  others.  He  united 
with  the  church  and  is  still  a  faithful  and  prominent  mem- 
ber in  Chicago. 

But  I  am  now  to  present,  if  possible,  a  more  touching 
scene  than  that  of  the  young  man.  One  evening,  just  at 
the  close  of  my  sermon,  a  messenger  came  in  haste,  request- 
ing me  to  visit  a  sister  at  the  point  of  death.  I  hastened 
to  the  sick  room,  and  as  I  entered  the  door,  she  was  shout- 
ing to  the  top  of  her  voice.  Her  husband,  a  sister  and  two 
friends  were  bowed  in  prayer  at  the  sofa,  and  the  room  was 
filled  with  the  glory  of  God.  She  requested  me  to  sing 
one  of  her  favorite  songs  of  praise,  in  which  she  joined 
until  her  voice  failed,  and  then  continued  the  action  of  holy 
rapture  with  her  hands  until  her  spirit  left  its  clay  to  find  a 
welcome  in  the  heavenly  home.  I  have  witnessed  many 
death  scenes,  but  this  of  Sister  Borland  was  the  most  trium- 
phant in  my  ministerial  history. 

Having  closed  up  my  four  weeks'  labor  on  this  charge, 
and  witnessing  about  one  hundred  conversions,  I  returned 
home  and  found  everything  prospering.  The  good  work  of 
revival  was  still  going  on  and  converts  added  to  the  church. 
About  this  time  I  received  a  letter  from  my  brother  James 
in  Illinois.  I  had  been  quite  anxious  to  hear  from  him,  as 
he  had  resolved  to  close  up  on  tobacco,  as  to  his  success. 
I  had  known  so  many  failures  that  I  was  almost  afraid  to 


120  THE     BATTLE    FIELD    REVIEWED. 

hear  his  report,  lest  he  might  be  among  the  rest.  But  the 
first  line  of  his  sheet  opened  with  gratitude  to  God,  whose 
grace  had  enabled  him  to  conquer  his  enemy;  and  now  he 
says:  "  Thank  God,  I  am  a  free  man.  It  is  now  about 
six  months  since  I  renounced  its  use  and  pledged  loyalty 
to  my  conscience,  and  I  am  free.  I  weigh  twenty  pounds 
heavier  than  when  I  left  you  at  Davenport,  and  in  every 
respect  I  feel  my  life  renewed."  I  will  say  here  that  he 
remained  true  to  the  last.  I  should  greatly  rejoice,  if  I 
could  persuade  all  of  my  brethren  who  use  it  to  do  the  same. 
A  few  months  subsequent  to  this  date,  I  had  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  experiences  of  my  life.  It  was  in  relation 
to  this  same  brother.  Some  five  months  had  passed  since 
receiving  this  letter,  and  I  was  quite  anxious  to  know  how 
he  was  prospering.  One  day,  enjoying  my  season  of  devo- 
tion, suddenly  my  mind  became  burthened  as  to  his  spirit- 
ual condition;  so  much  so,  that  I  was  mysteriously  drawn 
out  to  pray  for  his  liberation.  The  picture  was  so  vivid  to 
the  eye  of  my  mind,  that  it  became  a  reality.  The  next 
day  it  was  renewed  with  still  greater  intensity.  But  on 
the  third  day  the  picture  drawn  was  so  real,  and  attended 
with  such  a  weight  of  intense  interest,  that  I  lost  all  sight 
of  the  visionary,  and  it  became  a  reality;  and  I  did  not 
cease  praying  until  the  victory  was  complete.  The  blessing 
which  I  received,  as  the  evidence  of  victory,  was  past  all 
expression,  and  I  arose  filled  with  wonder,  love  and  praise. 
I  said  at  once,  u  I  will  now  test  this  matter,  by  writing  to 
my  brother,  and  inquiring  if  there  had  been  anything  pe- 
culiar in  his  experience."  I  did  so;  and  in  answer  to  my 
inquiry,  he  informed  me  that  "he  had  just  passed  through 
one  of  the  greatest  trials  of  his  life,  and  that  orythat  din/  at 
camp-meeting  he  had  come  off  victorious,  triumphing  over 
all  his  foes."  When  I  received  his  letter  confirming  the 
reality  of  my  experience,  the  refreshing  came  again  with 
renewed  power.  After  such  an  experience  as  this,  amount- 
ing to  a  demonstration,  could  I  ever  doubt  the  doctrine  of 


R  K  V  E  L  A  T  I  O  N     OF    THE     H  O  I.  Y     SPIRIT.  121 

the  c'  communion  with  saints!"  Within  three  months  from 
this  remarkable  circumstance,  another  occurred  of  a  similar 
character,  which  many  of  the  friends  in  Davenport  still 
remember.  At  the  close  of  one  of  our  prayer-meetings  on 
Thursday  evening,  Sister  Young  came  to  me  and  stated 
that  she  had  been  strongly  impressed  during  the  services, 
that  an  old  friend  and  brother  in  California  had  just 
departed.  I  said  to  her,  "  Mark  the  date  until  you  hear 
from  them."  She  did  so,  and  when  the  letter  came  bearing 
the  intelligence  of  his  death,  the  time  corresponded  exactly 
with  the  previous  impression.  That  the  -Holy  Spirit  does 
at  times  make  such  revelations  to  the  human  mind  is  beyond 
a  doubt,  when  some  important  interests  are  involved.  And 
is  it  any  more  strange  that  they  should  sometimes  occur 
under  the  Christian  dispensation,  than  in  the  days  of  Joseph 
and  Daniel?  Those  who  have  read  the  writings  of  James 
Caughey,  the  great  revivalist,  remember  the  revelation 
made  to  his  mind  which  induced  him  to  go  to  England  and 
there  labor  for  years  in  the  jyreat  work  of  saving  souls.  So 
far  as  the  mystery  is  concerned,  it  is  not  any  more  so  than 
that  the  All-Wise  hears  and  answers  prayer.  That  this  is 
no  uncommon  occurrence,  the  Word  of  God  and  the  his- 
tory of  the  church  unite  in  their  testimony ;  i.  e.,  in"  direct 
answers  to  the  prayer  of  faith.  I  record  an  interesting  case 
of  this  kind  in  the  history  of  this  year's  labors,  which  will 
close  up  the  page  of  incidents  on  this  work.  The  most  of 
our  older  ministers  were  acquainted  with  John  Morton, 
a.  member  of  this  charge;  and  how  many  have  enjoyed  a 
pleasant  stay  at  his  home!  f)uring  the  past  winter  he  was 
brought  low  with  the  rheumatism,  and  his  friends  enter- 
tained but  little  hope  of  his  recovery.  At  the  worst  stage 
of  the  disease,  when  not  expected  to  live,  a  few  minutes 
before  Sunday  evening's  service  I  stepped  into  his  room  to 
see  him.  He  was  very  sick,  and  doubtful  whether  he  would 
survive  the  morning.  As  I  was  leaving,  Sister  Morton,  with 
deep  emotion,  requested  me  to  "  remember  him  in  the 


2        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

prayers  of  the  church."  Just  before  dismissal,  I  brought 
up  his  case,  and  requested  that  if  it  were  God's  will  that  he 
should  be  restored  to  health,  that  we  would  all  unite  our 
prayers,  then  and  there,  to  this  end.  I  then  requested  an 
able  brother  to  lead,  when  all  seemed  to  unite  as  one  for 
the  recovery  of  our  dear  brother.  It  was  the  victory  of 
faith;  and  as  the  assembly  arose  all  seemed  to  be  impressed 
that  our  prayers  had  prevailed.  After  service,  I  called  in 
again,  but  what  a  change!  Said  Sister  Morton,  "  About  an 
hour  since,  a  great  change  took  place  for  the  better,  and 
he  appears  like  a  new  man."  He  continued  to  improve 
rapidly  until  his  health  was  restored,  and  lived,  like  Heze- 
kiah,  about  fifteen  years  after  this  event,  to  comfort  his 
friends  and  bless  the  world.  From  that  memorable  evening 
I  have  not  had  the  least  doubt  but  that  Brother  Morton  was 
raised  up  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God; 
and  when  we  meet  him  in  the  land  of  light,  where  the 
pages  of  Divine  providence  are  better  understood,  we  shall 
realize,  as  \*e  never  shall  be  able  to  in  this  life,  "  That  the 
effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much." 
T  would  still  love  to  linger  around  this  sacred  spot,  where  so 
many  friendships  were  formed,  and  where  so  many  souls 
were  blessed,  but  I  am  called  to  new  duties  and  new  inter- 
ests in  other  fields  of  labor,  where  conflicts  are  to  be  met, 
where  faith  is  to  be  tried,  and  victories  are  to  be  won.  But 
I  still  remember  my  motto:  That  no  enterprise  can,  fail 
with  God  to  back  it.  Before  entering  upon  the  history  of  a 
new  charge,  however,  I  must  state  that  during  my  term  of 
two  years  and  three  months  in  this  city,  the  population  had 
more  than  doubled;  our  membership  in  the  same  ratio;  w<> 
had  no  church  trials  or  any  difficulties  of  this  kind,  and  not 
one  death  in  the  society.  Rev.  James  Gilruth  and  family, 
from  the  state  of  Ohio,  moved  to  this  city  during  this  year 
and  became  members  of  this  station.  We  shall  refer  m 
him  again. 


BURLIKGTON    LABORS    AND    VICTORIES.     123 

"Scenes  of  sacred  peace  and  pleasure, 

Holy  days  and  Sabbath  bell, 
Richest,  brightest,  sweetest  treasure, 

Can  I  say  at  last  farewell? 
Can  I  leave  thee  ?  Can  I  leave  thee  ? 

Soon  in  other  lands  to  dwell !" 

This  language  of  the  poet  embodies  about  my  feelings 
as  I  left  these  friends,  and  the  old  chapel,  to  enter  upon  a 
new  field  of  labor. 


CHAPTER     XXI. 

We  met  this  fall  for  our  conference  session  at  Burlington, 
once  more  in  Old  Zion,  Bishop  Ames  presiding.  The  state 
of  feeling  was  not  as  pleasant  as  at  some  of  our  former  ses- 
sions, owing  to  some  preferences  of  men  in  the  station. 
Some  were  for  Paul,  and  others  for  Apollos — so  much  so  that 
the  state  of  party  feeling  ran  quite  high;  and  where  this 
spirit  rules,  it  must  necessarily  conflict  with  the  Spirit  of 
God.  Bishop  Ames  also  pursued  a  different  course  from 
that  of  his  predecessors  in  letting  every  man  know  as  to  his 
coming  work.  These  two  elements  combined  created  much 
confusion  and  unpleasant  feeling  during  the  conference,  and 
caused  the  appointing  power  much  trouble.  The  pastor 
for  the  past  year  was  Rev.  Joseph  Brooks,  an  able  minister, 
formerly  from  Ohio,  and  the  question  to  be  settled,  among 
others,  was,  should  he  be  returned  to  the  charge,  or  some 
new  man  in  his  stead.  I  was  not  aware  of  my  appointment 
to  the  station — as  the  charge  had  been  recently  made — until 
just  before  the  reading  of  the  appointments,  and  was  taken 
a  little  by  surprise.  But  the  "die  was  cast,"  and  my  ap- 
pointment was  read  out  for  Burlington  city,  with  David 
Worthington  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  To  be  the 
better  prepared  for  the  work  before  me,  aware  of  its  pleni- 
tude, I  called  the  official  board  together  in  order  to  learn 


124  THE     RATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  true  state  of  things  before  entering  upon  it.  We  found 
at  this  meeting  such  a  state  of  finances  as  to  discourage 
almost  any  man  or  official  brethren  to  remedy.  Matters 
stood  about  as  follows:  Parsonage  purchased  the  last  year, 
twelve  hundred  dollars.  Interest  at  twelve  per  cent,  for 
one  year,  one  hundred  and  forty-four  dollars.  Incidentals 
unpaid  during  the  past  year,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars.  Making  in  all  fifteen  hundred  and  nineteen  dollars; 
and  to  meet  this,  not  one  cent  in  the  treasury.  I  give  these 
items  that  my  readers  may  know  something  of  the  nature 
of  the  work  before  me.  Before  we  adjourned  I  was  elected 
general  collector  and  treasurer,  as  well  as  secretary,  and 
thus  I  had  honor  enough  for  one  man.  Pastor  on  Sunday, 
and  Thursday  evenings,  and  financial  agent  through  the 
week.  Not  a  hill,  nor  a  valley,  not  a  nook,  nor  a  corner 
throughout  the  city,  but  I  traveled  over  and  over  to  relieve 
the  church  from  embarrassment  and  save  our  religious 
credit;  and  had  I  not  been  favored  with  help  above  the  arm 
of  man,  I  most  certainly  should  have  failed.  But  the  Lord 
gave  me  aid,  with  the  people  I  found  favor,  and  before  my 
term  was  closed  the  cloud  had  passed  away  and  we  were 
rejoicing  in  the  light.  I  must  here  record  my  gratitude  to 
God,  and  to  those  faithful  brethren  who  stood  by  me  through 
all  this  ordeal,  and  among  them  I  must  name  Jedediah 
Bennett  as  not  among  the  least.  In  the  darkest  day  he 
hung  out  the  signal  of  hope,  and  thus  we  plucked  victory 
out  of  seeming  defeat.  But  the  burden  and  responsibilities 
of  those  two  years  I  shall  never  forget.  They  are  so  indeli- 
bly engraven  upon  my  memory  that  the  changes  of  time 
will  never  be  able  to  efface  them. 

On  the  second  Sabbath  I  chose  for  my  text:  "  Lord,  wilt 
thou  not  revive  us  again,  that  thy  people  may  rejoice  in 
thee?"  The  spirit  of  revival  was  manifest;  after  the  dis- 
course the  class-rooms  were  filled,  and  the  songs  of  praise 
resounded  through  almost  every  part  of  the  house.  In  the 
evening  I  preached  from  "-None  of  us  liveth  to  himself,"  etc. 


A     TEST     SEKMON. 


The  sermon  ended,  I  ppened  the  doors  of  the  church,  and 
six  persons  honored  the  invitation.  From  this  date  all  the 
interests  of  the  church  seemed  to  improve;  the  chapel  was 
crowded  with  hearers,  and  there  were  new  accessions  almost 
every  week.  So,  you  see,  whilst  we  were  laboring  for  dollars 
to  relieve  the  temporal,  we  were  gathering  souls  to  enrich 
the  spiritual  and  eternal.  This  station,  through  many  past 
years,  had  about  the  same  history—  revivals  in  the  winter 
until  every  foot  of  space  was  occupied,  and  they  could  go 
no  further,  and  then  a  thinning  out  in  the  summer  until 
they  reached  about  the  same  level.  Realizing  this  difficulty, 
and  knowing  that  the  prosperity  of  our  church  greatly  de- 
pended upon  aggressive  movements  from  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  I  used  all  of  my  influence  in  order  to  prepare  the 
minds  of  the  brethren  for  a  division  of  the  charge  at  its 
close.  The  effort  had  been  previously  made,  but  failed,. 
owing  to  the  reluctance  in  the  separation  of  old  class-mates 
and  tried  friends.  Having  convinced  them  that  the  spiritual 
interests  of  Christ's  church  were  far  above  that  of  our  own 
preferences,  and  that  it  was  a  Christian  duty  to  do  all  in  our 
power  to  promote  that  interest,  when  the  matter  was  pre- 
sented to  the  last  quarterly  conference  for  the  year,  it  passed 
unanimously  and  the  lines  were  established. 

David  Worthington,  our  presiding  elder  on  this  district, 
was  one  of  the  oldest  preachers  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  He 
was  sound  in  doctrine,  rather  solid  than  brilliant;  a  good 
counselor,  a  warm  friend,  and  fully  devoted  to  his  work. 
His  record  in  Iowa  as  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel  is 
without  a  blemish.  In  this  station,  I  became  more  fully 
acquainted  with  Rev.  Win.  Corkhill,  the  first  and  for  many 
years  the  only  Bible  agent  for  the  state.  As  he  resided  here 
at  this  time,  and  was  a  member  of  my  charge,  we  enjoyed 
many  pleasant  hours  together.  He  was  well  adapted  to 
this  important  work,  never  failing  to  give  to  "  saint  and 
sinner  a  portion  in  due  season,  "for  a  little  money.  He  had 
talents  for  great  usefulness,  and  had  he  been  as  pious  as  he 


126  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED, 

was  amusing,  he  might  have  exerted  a  vast  influence  in 
winning  souls  for  Christ.  Not  that  he  lacked  devotion  to 
every  good  cause,  but  he  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to 
jesting  and  joking  that  self-denial  was  no  longer  a  vir- 
tue. Whilst  these  remarks  are  true,  very  few  men  inherited 
a  larger  heart  and  warmer  sensibilities  than  my  old  friend. 
Within  the  bounds  of  his  work  he  had  a  very  wealthy 
man,  who  was  a  member  of  our  church,  but  he  could  never, 
with  all  his  eloquence,  touch  the  nerve  of  his  generosity. 
If  he  gave  anything  to  the  Bible  cause,  it  was  a  mere  pit- 
tance. And  yet  no  one  professed  to  value  religion,  its 
hopes  and  enjoyments,  more  than  he.  Brother  Corkhill 
being  so  often  defeated,  felt  a  little  like  the  farmer  toward 
the  boy  stealing  his  apples.  After  kind  words  and  tufts  of 
grass  had  been  employed  to  no  purpose:  "Well,  well," 
said  the  farmer,  "  if  neither  words  nor  grass  will  do,  1  will 
try  what  virtue  there  is  in  stories."  And  so  felt  the  agent. 
He  drew  a  vivid  picture  of  a  wealthy  man  who  in  company 
with  others  owned  a  large  and  productive  vineyard,  and 
whilst  his  partners  from  day  to  day  were  out  laboring  in  the 
hot  sun,  digging  and  pruning,  that  it  might  bear  abundant 
fruit,  this  man  sat  on  his  sofa,  beneath  the  bending  branches, 
in  the  cooling  shade,  and  every  now  and  then  he  would 
pull  off  a  rich  cluster,  smack  his  lips,  and  then  say,  "  bless 
God  for  grapes."  And  thus  he  continued  from  year  to 
year,  enjoying  his  soft  seat  and  cooling  shade,  blessing  God 
for  grapes — and  at  the  same  time  never  lifted  a  hand  to 
assist  in  procuring  them.  Then  came  the  application. 
Many  wealthy  members  of  the  church,  owing  all  they  had 
to  the  influence  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  under  the 
divine  blessing  had  become  wealthy,  and  to  it  indebted  for 
the  prospect  of  a  glorious  immortality;  and  yet  when  asked 
for  a  few  dollars  to  assist  that  cause  that  had  made  and 
saved  them,  they  turned  a  deaf  ear  and  an  empty  pocket. 
Well  had  it  been  for  Brother  Corkhill  if  his  last  remedy 
had  been  as  effectual  as  that  of  the  farmer's;  but  instead  of 


HENRY     CLAYDEAN.  127 

this,  his  last  donation  to  the  cause  was  in  keeping  with 
those  that  had  gone  before.  A  ministerial  friend  of  mine 
being  present,  went  up  to  the  party  after  the  discourse,  and 
asked  him  how  he  was  pleased  with  the  sermon.  His 
answer  was:  "That  he  did  very  well,  but  made,  a  great 
many  blunders"  And  thus  the  hard  labor  laid  out  in 
drawing  a  vivid  picture  and  a  pointed  application  to  reform 
a  penurious  man,  ended  just  where  it  began. 

In  this  station  I  had  also  the  acquaintance  of  Henry  Clay 
Dean.  Though  I  had  labored  with  him  during  the  great 
awakening  in  Muscatine,  referred  to  in  a  previous  chapter, 
he  now  being  stationed  on  an  adjoining  charge,  and  seeing 
him  every  few  days,  I  had  a  better  opportunity  to  learn  the 
character  of  the  man.  And  with  this  knowledge,  I  am  sat- 
isfied that  there  is  only  one  such  man  in  the  United  States. 
He  preached  occasionally  for  me  during  the  year,  and  in 
some  instances,  in  his  eloquence,  he  reached  a  sublime 
grandeur.  This  term  expresses  it,  as  nearly  so  as  any  lan- 
guage at  mv  command.  I  have  heard  many  of  our  most 
eloquent  men,  but  in  some  of  his  lofty  flights  he  was  not 
excelled.  At  one  of  our  camp-meetings  at  Long  Grove, 
being  left  in  charge  of  it,  I  was  aware  that  he  desired  to 
preach  on  Sunday  night.  Having  had  a  short  interview,  I 
said  to  him:  "Henry,  if  you  will  preach  a  good  gospel  ser- 
mon to-night,  adapted  to  the  saving  of  souls,  as  I  know  you 
can,  and  leave  out  Dean,  we  will  be  glad  to  hear  you." 
True  to  promise,  he  started  out;  his  voice,  naturally  musical, 
rose  with  the  interest  of  the  subject.  He  commenced  with 
the  sinner  in  his  sins;  he  carried  him  through  all  the  stages 
of  spiritual  progress  until  he  stood  upon  the  Rock,  "  with  a 
new  song  in  his  mouth,  even  praises  to  God."  He  then 
followed  him  througli  all  the  conflicts  and  experiences  of 
human  life  down  to  the  day  when  he  placed  his  foot  upon 
the  neck  of  the  last  enemy,  and  then  stood  waving  the  flag 
of  victory  over  the  head  of  his  conquered  foe.  Then,  with 
one  sublime  flight  he  reaches  the  golden  gates  of  the 


128  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

heavenly  city,  where  he  is  greeted  with  the  songs  of  angels 
and  the  shouts  of  saints;  and  Jesus  standing  in  the  front 
meets  him  with  a  shining  crown,  and  says  to  him:  "  You  have 
been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  and  now  I  will  make  you 
ruler  over  many.  Enter  thou  into  the  joys  of  thy  Lord." 
No  pen-sketch  can  give  an  accurate  idea  of  the  sermon  and 
its  effects  upon  the  audience  upon  that  clear  and  beautiful 
night,  and  it  was  the  crowning  glory  of  all  his  pulpit  efforts 
in  my  hearing.  Had  he  been  as  devoted  and  consistent  in 
his  life  as  he  was  eloquent  in  his  address,  he  would  have 
been  a  power  for  good;  but  it  remains  a  truth,  and  that 
truth  will  forever  remain,  that  nothing  can  be  substituted 
for  a  pure  heart. 

We*  were  favored  with  a  good  revival  influence,  during 
this  the  first  winter  of  our  labors,  wherein  about  fifty  pro- 
fessed conversion  and  were  added  to  the  church.  Whilst 
this  work  was  in  progress,  a  colored  preacher  (or  professed 
to  be)  came  to  Burlington,  and  many  of  the  friends  were 
anxious  that  I  should  invite  him  to  preach.  I  had  learned 
up  to  this  time  to  be  a  little  cautious  of  strangers,  unless 
they  came  well  recommended;  and  as  he  had  no  creden- 
tials, I  was  slow  to  push  him  forward.  But  the  pressure 
was  such  I  consented  for  him  to  preach.  He  did  very  well. 
In  a  short  time  he  was  requested  to  preach  the  second  ser- 
mon; but  in  this,  the  first  one  was  nearly  half  repeated, 
when  I  began  to  suspect  that  all  was  not  right.  Within  a 
short  time  I  was  informed  that  his  liquor-bill  was  unpaid; 
which  being  confirmed,  he  hastily  left,  leaving  his  admirers 
to  square  the  account.  From  this  experience,  I  never  again 
invited  a  strange  man  into  my  pulpit  unless  I  knew  it  to  be 
a  clear  case.  It  would  be  a  strange  occurrence  indeed,  as 
we  have  counterfeits  on  almost  everything  else,  that  we 
should  not  have  now  and  then  one  in  the  ministry.  A  few 
years  after  this  event  I  saw  him  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state,  and  I  was  informed  that,  getting  tired  of  his  first 


HON.     JOHN     F.     DILLON.  129 

wife,  he  visited  our  place  in  quest  of  a  second.  Let  all 
who  read  this  profit  by  the  history. 

During'the  first  half  of  this  year — in  November,  I  think, 
I  received  a  letter  from  Hirarn  Price,  of  Davenport,  to  come 
to  his  city  and  meet  some  previous  engagements  entered 
into  before  I  left.  Their  daughter  Anna  had  engaged  my 
services  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  when  the  time 
came,  and  I  had  promised  to  attend,  and  now  I  was  to 
honor  my  pledge.  The  young  man  of  her  choice  was 
Doctor  Dillon,  living  in  that  city,  of  studious  habits  and  of 
much  promise.  Having  been  intimately  acquainted  with 
them  for  the  past  two  years,  and  Brother  Price's  family  a 
kind  of  home,  I  responded  to  .this  call  with  the  greatest 
pleasure.  The  marriage  ceremonv  was  performed  in  the 
Methodist  chapel,  before  a  large  audience,  after  which  the 
friends  retired  to  the  house  to  enjoy  a  season  of  social 
entertainment.  Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett,  now  my  successor  on 
this  charge,  was  with  us,  and  enlivened  the  occasion  by 
his  cheerful  spirit  and  conversation.  In  fact,  it  was  one 
of  those  pleasant  pastimes  which  occur  only  now  and 
then  in  a  man's  life.  Many  have  been  the  friendly  hours, 
since  that  time,  enjoyed  with  Judge  Dillon  arid  his  kind 
companion.  Seldom  did  I  visit  Davenport  without  paying 
them  a  visit,  and  through  the  varied  changes  which  have 
taken  place  since  1852,  I  have  numbered  them  with  my 
wannest  friends.  I  little  thought  that  when  that  young 
man  stood  before  me  and  so  frankly  assented  to  his  mar- 
riage obligations,  that  the  period  would  soon  arrive  when 
he  would  occupy  one  among  the  first  positions  in  our 
nation;  but  this  only  shows  what  can  be  accomplished  by 
studious  application  and  an  honorable  course  in  life;  and 
should  he  yet  be  permitted  to  occupy  a  seat  on  the  "su- 
preme bench"  the  only  comment  I  should  make,  is  this: 
"He  is  worthy" 

On  my  return  home  to  Burlington,  from  this  pleasant 
visit,  I  found  the  citizens  much  excited  by  the  sudden  dis- 
10 


130  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

appearance  of  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Hawks  Griffith, 
who,  it  was  thought,  had  committed  suicide.  The  most 
thorough  search  had  been  made,  but  with  no  success.  The 
only  evidence  that  he  had  made  way  with  himself  was  some 
missing  trace-chains,  supposed  to  have  been  taken  to  fasten 
weights  to  his  body  to  prevent  its  rising  to  the  surface  of 
the  water.  The  family  was  composed  of  a  widowed  mother, 
a  grown-up  son  and  daughter;  all,  the  son  excepted,  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church.  This  son  was  a  very  moral  young 
man,  of  fine  appearance,  and  a  regular  attendant  at  church; 
and  so  far  as  we  knew,  they  were  a  pleasant  and  very  happy 
family.  We  learned  after  this  occurrence  that  there  had 
been  a  little  difference  of  opinion  between  the  mother  and 
son  as  to  the  propriety  of  moving  to  the  country  in  order 
to  lessen  the  expenses  of  living,  and  that  this  opposition 
had  caused  him  to  commit  this  act.  His  person  was  not 
found  until  the  corning  spring,  and  then  in  the  Mississippi 
river;  some  of  the  fastenings  had  been  detached  and  he 
was  floating  near  the  surface  of  the  stream.  But  O,  what 
an  experience  for  that  mother  and  daughter!  For  many 
weeks  they  seemed  almost  comfortless,  he  being  their  main 
stay  and  hope  to  sustain  them  amidst  the  burdens  and  inter- 
ests of  human  life.  What  a,  fearful  delusion,  to  think  that  the 
relations  of  life  will  be  changed  for  the  better  by  forcing 
ourselves  out  of  time  into  eternity! 

The  spiritual  interests  of  the  society  during  this  confer- 
ence year  were  greatly  promoted  by  a  higher  spiritual  life 
within  the  church.  Sister  Porter,  from  Quincy,  Illinois, 
having  united  with  us,  and  Sister  Moore,  with  some  others, 
coming  out  into  the  full  light  and  liberty  of  gospel  fullness,^ 
they  became  a  power  wherever  they  went.  I  have  known 
very  many  talented  and  eloquent  women  in  prayer,  but 
for  beauty  in  language,  richness  in  thought,  inspiration  in 
feeling,  and  in  sublime,  moving  eloquence,  Sister  Porter 
stood  first.  You  might  calculate  when  she  commenced,  that 
before  she  closed,  you  would  be  carried  upward  far  above 


T  K  O  U  B  L  E     W  I  T  H     THE     MORMONS.  131 

sun,  moon,  and  stars,  and  finally  your  feet  placed  upon  the 
golden  streets  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  Many  of  the  uncon- 
verted came  to  our  weekly  prayer-meeting,  attracted  by  the 
powerful  prayers  of  that  talented  woman.  But  this  is  not 
all.  That  which  gave  such  efficiency  to  her  eloquence  of 
speech  was  her  eloquence  of  life.  The  same  might  be  said 
of  many  others — members  of  this  charge.  How  often  did 
I  realize,  whilst  laboring  among  them,  with  this  host  of 
faithful  workers,  "  That  the  lines  have  fallen  unto  me  in 
very  pleasant  places." 

Rev.  Wm.  Simpson,  my  old  colleague  at  Mt.  Pleasant, 
being  now  stationed  at  Fort  Madison,  wrote  for  me  to  come 
and  assist  him  in  his  work.  Being  nearly  seven  years  since 
we  separated,  nothing  could  have  been  more  agreeable  than 
this  reunion  of  friendship  with  him  and  his  family.  During 
this  interval  he  had  been  stationed  at  Council  Bluffs  among 
the  Mormons,  cursed  by  the  priest,  buried  a  little  daughter 
with  his  own  hands,  saved  from  Mormon  wrath  by  a  few 
heroic  Gentiles,  triumphed  over  all  opposition  and  hard- 
ships, and  left  the  field  with  a  nourishing  society  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  members.  All  this  he  had  passed 
through  since  we  were  co-laborers  together  for  the  Master, 
and  no  wonder  that  we  were  ripe  for  a  brotherly  greeting. 
I  remained  with  him  for  several  days,  and  the  work  of  the 
Lord  prospered  in  our  hands.  Here  T  met  a  brother  and 
his  companion,  an  old  acquaintance  of  former  days,  whom 
I  married  six  years  previous  on  a  distant  charge.  Although 
not  a  professor  of  religion  at  that  time,  he  was  now  a  promi- 
nent member  of  this  station,  and  recorder  of  the  county. 
My  reception  in  this  family  was  heart-cheering,  they  being 
warm  and  zealous  members  of  the  cause,  and  mv  stay  was 
among  the  happy  events  of  my  life.  I  trust  that,  when  life's 
history  is  written  up,  the  names  of  Brother  and  Sister 
James  will  be  found  recorded  in  the  "LamUs  Book  of 
Life"  Brother  Simpson  was  one  of  those  humble,  trusting^ 
happy  Christians,  and  during  our  acquaintance  often  said 


THE     BATTLE     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  W  R  D  . 

to  me  that  his  last  song  on  earth  would  be,  "  And  we'll 
cross  the  river  of  Jordan,  happy  in  the  Lord."  We  will  see 
how  this  was  fulfilled  when  I  come  to  record  his  death. 
Duty  now  called  me  to  return  to  my  own  heritage,  and  1 
left  the  pleasant  little  city  and  its  many  warm  friends, 
storing  up  its  interesting  history  among  the  precious  remem- 
brances of  the  past. 

Among*  the  many  interests  of  this  year  I  had  a  very 
pleasant  experience  of  a  different  character.  Judge  Stock- 
ton, the  son-in-law  of  Rev.  John  Collins  of  precious  mem- 
ory, was  a  member  of  my  charge,  but  being  a  very  humble 
man,  and  not  inclined  to  push  himself  forward,  the  brethren 
seemed  content  that  he  should  attend  to  his  own  specific 
duties  unmolested.  Upon  my  appointment  to  the  city,  a 
warm  friendship  was  formed,  and  I  recommended  him  to 
the  quarterly  conference  for  the  office  of  steward.  To  the 
surprise  of  many  of  the  brethren — and  gratification  also — he 
soon  became  one  of  our  best  advisers  and  most  efficient  work- 
ers in  the  station;  and  his  own  religious  enjoyment  seemed 
to  deepen  and  expand  as  he  labored  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  charge.  And  this  was  not  strange,  for  how  can  an 
individual  feel  much  interest  in  that  with  which  he  has  noth- 
ing to  do?  If  we  would  see  him  all  awake  and  alive  in  any 
enterprise,  let  him  become  a  party  to  its  profits;  yea,  let 
him  go  to  work  earnestly  to  reach  the  desired  result,  and 
how  soon  the  whole  course  of  life  is  changed.  In  the  work 
of  the  church  it  is  no  less  true  "That  he  that  would  win 
must  labor  for  the  prize,"  but  he  that  would  enjoy  God 
must  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  the  work  assigned  him.  In 
no  appointment  in  the  state  of  Iowa  did  I  find  a  more 
flourishing  Sunday-school  than  in  the  city  of  Burlington. 
At  that  date,  we  had  an  average  attendance  of  over  two 
hundred  scholars,  and  a  healthy  religious  influence  all 
through  the  year.  Many  of  our  scholars  were  converted 
and  united  with  the  church.  The  secret  of  our  success  in 
this  department  of  our  work  is  easily  accounted  for.  Not 


BURLINGTON C  O  N  T  I  N  U  E'l)    PROSPERITY.     1^3 

only  had  we  the  very  best  of  teachers,  but  they  were  always 
at  the  post  of  duty;  and  these  two  good  qualities — fitness 
and  faithfulness,  will  invariably  enhance  the  prosperity 
of  the  Sunday-school.  I  never  failed  to  attend  and  interest 
the  scholars,  so  far  as  I  could,  with  my  presence  and  coun- 
sel; and  as  a  kind  of  token'of  their  appreciation  of  my  ser- 
vices, they  presented  me  with  a  purse  containing  thirty 
dollars  in  cash.  I  think  that  I  can  safely  say,  that  in  no 
one  field  of  labor  did  I  ever  secure  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tion of  the  children  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  this  sta- 
tion, and  I  fondly  hope  that  in  that  heavenly  kingdom, 
where  Christ  will  know  his  own,  I  shall  still  share  the 
friendship  and  love  of  many  of  those  choice  spirits  to 
whom  I  ministered  in  1853. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

Dr.  Chalmers  paid  quite  a  compliment  to  Methodism 
when  he  called  it "  Christianity  in  earnest;"  and  this  idea  was 
seconded  by  a  Presbyterian  minister  at  one  of  our  gatherings, 
who  remarked:  "  When  the  Methodist  church  has  anything  } 
to  do,  she  goes  right  to  work  and  does  it."  This  compli-  / 
ment  is  not  always  well  deserved;  for  "Old  Zion,"  at  this 
date,  had  needed  a  new  roof  for  a  long  time;  so  much  so, 
that  every  hard  rain  endangered  our  plastering;  and  if  good 
wishes  had  been  of  any  avail,  long  before  this  the  work 
would  have  been  accomplished.  But  the  time  had  come 
when  necessity  demanded  action  rather  than  good  wishes, 
and  we  went  right  to  work  in  earnest.  After  having  raised 
sufficient  funds  by  a  rousincf  festival,  I  called  for  volunteers 
to  do  the  work  "without  money  and  without  price."  At 
the  time  appointed,  they  came  by  scores,  tearing  off  and 
putting  on,  which  by  their  hammer  and  clatter  seemed  to 
wake  up  the  whole  city,  and  in  two  days  the  old  moss-cov- 


1 34  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

ered  roof  was  displaced,  and  old  Zion  had  become  partly 
new.  We  had  a  time  of  general  rejoicing  over  this  valua- 
ble improvement,  and  some  of  those  who  were  in  doubt  as 
to  our  success,  now  came  in  to  share  the  honor.  Seldom, 
in  any  experience  in  the  history  of  the  past,  have  I  had  more 
striking  proof  of  what  can  be  done  by  resolute  purpose 
and  prompt  action  than  in  this  undertaking;  and  I  can  here 
say  of  the  good  brethren  and  sisters  of  Burlington,  that 
they  are  hard  to  surpass  when  they  enter  upon  the  u  home- 
stretch:'' 

This  city  also  surpassed  any  other  charge  in  my  pastoral 
work  in  the  number  of  weddings  which  I  attended.  In 
one  instance  I  had  three  in  one  day,  and  I  was  obliged  to 
change  the  hour  to  suit  the  pastor.  I  was  never  involved 
in  the  same  difficulty,  however,  as  in  the  case  of  my  col- 
league. After  the  ceremony  he  was  asked  the  charge  for 
his  services,  when  he  informed  the  party  that  he  generally 
left  it  to  the  generosity  of  the  bridegroom.  But  he  insisting 
on  the  minister's  setting  his  own  price,  was  told  that  five 
dollars  would  be  about  right.  He  paid  it,  but  learning 
afterward  that  he  had  paid  too  much,  he  came  back  and 
demanded  restitution.  My  colleague  was  not  a  relative  of 
Zaccheus  "  to  restore  four-fold,"  but  he  gave  him  to  under- 
stand that  the  value  of  an  article  was  known  by  the  price 
paid  for  it,  and  by  this  rule  all  would  know  that  he  had  a 
good  wife.  This  new  departure  seemed  to  satisfy  the 
claimant,  and  he  went  out  from  the  pastor's  presence  a 
wiser  if  not  a  better  man.  But  whilst  I  never  passed 
through  just  such  an  experience  as  this,  I  had  one  of  a  dif- 
ferent character,  and  fortunate  for  me  had  I  fared  as  well. 
This  man  came  to  me  manifesting  deep  concern.  He 
wished  to  let  me  into  a  secret  of  a  very  private  character, 
which  had  involved  him  in  very  serious  trouble,  and  he 
assured  me  that  if  I  could  relieve  him  I  should  be  well 
paid.  He  informed  me  that  the  woman  with  whom  he  was 
living  was  not  his  wife — that  they  had  not  been  married — 


REUNION     WITH     OLD     FRIENDS.  135 

and  that  if  I  would  procure  the  papers  and  finish  the  work 
legally,  without  making  it  public,  he  would  be  very  grateful 
and  pay  me  my  own  price.  As  he  appeared  so  honest  and 
sincere,  I  really  felt  that  it  would  be  a  virtue  to  assist  a 
penitent  man,  even  in  a  dilemma  like  the  present.  And 
thus  I  went  to  work,  advanced  the  money  for  the  necessary 
papers,  and  at  eight  o'clock  p.  M.  I  had  pronounced  them 
husband  and  wife.  He  thanked  me  kindly;  said  he  would 
call  at  the  parsonage  the  next  day  and  satisfy  me  well  for 
my  trouble.  The  next  day  came  and  I  saw  him  not;  and 
the  next  came  but  he  did  not  appear;  but  a  friend  of  mine 
assured  me  that  he  saw  him  on  the  road  with  his  new  wife 
and  a  few  traps,  making  great  haste  for  tall  timber.  When  I 
received  this  intelligence  I  said,  truly  the  bird  has  flown, 
and  I  am  sold.  Just  now  I  felt  very  much  like  attuning- 
my  powers  of  song  to  this  stanza: 

"  How  vain  are  all  things  here  below, 

How  false,  and  yet  how  fair; 
Each  pleasure  hath  its  poison  too, 
Anil  every  sweet  a  snare.''' 

This  little-counter  experience,  however,  was  only  the  dry 
branch  to  a  green  tree — perhaps  I  ought  to  call  it  a  snay; 
and  I  could  well  afford  to  endure  it,  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
all  the  others  were  pleasant,  and  my  marriage  fees  during 
the  year  amounted  to  over  one  hundred  dollars. 

The  conference  year  of  1853  is  now  drawing  to  a  close, 
and  we  are  looking  forward  to  our  next  annual  session. 
But  a  short  time  before  its  arrival  I  was  brought  down  with 
the  bilious  fever,  and  was  quite  feeble  when  we  started  for 
conference.  Rev.  Erastus  Lathrop,  on  an  adjoining  charge, 
kindly  proffered  me  a  seat  in  his  buggy,  and  we  started  for 
the  city  of  Oskaloosa.  Our  little  towns  were  all  cities 
then,  for  this  was  the  only  badge  (the  name)  by  which  they 
could  have  been  known.  Our  route  being  through  one  of 
my  former  circuits,  of  course  they  must  again  hear  their 
old  pastor;  and  I  was  delighted  that  they  had  the  oppo: 


136  THE     1JATTLE     F  I  K  L  I)     REVIEWED. 

tunity.  As  many  of  them  had  traveled  for  miles  to  meet 
me  on  my  way,  and  my  appointment  circulated,  though 
feeble,  I  could  not  disappoint  them.  The  hearty  greeting 
which  I  received,  after  an  absence  of  six  years,  the  joy  and 
gratitude  expressed,  reminded  me  of  the  joyful  reunion 
when  Christian  friends  shall  meet  in  heaven.  Oh,  there  is  a 
bond  which  binds  the  lovers  of  the  Saviour  so  closely 
together  that  all  the  powers  of  earth  cannot  break  and 
death  cannot  sever. 

/    "Death  may  the  bands  of  life  unloose, 
{       Sat  can't  dissolve  our  lore.'11 

Truly,  it  was  a  feast  of  social  friendship  and  spiritual 
enjoyment  all  tho  way  to  the  seat  of  conference.  As  we 
arrived,  who  should  we  meet  but  Brother  J.  B.  Hardy,  the 
pastor  stationed  at  Oskaloosa,  who  informed  me  that  I  must 
preach  that  evening.  I  plead  inability,  but  to  no  purpose; 
preach  I  must,  and  preach  I  did.  But  in  view  of  my  recent 
recovery  from  a  bilious  attack,  it  was  too  much;  it  brought 
on  a  relapse,  which  continued  for  three  weeks.  This  ses- 
sion to  me  was  almost  a  blank,  inasmuch  as  I  was  confined 
to  my  room  and  visited  the  brethren  but  once,  and  this  was 
the  morning  that  Elder  Reed  spiked  the  gun  of  that 
"young  man  eloquent,"  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

At  the  adjournment  of  this  conference  session,  being 
returned  to  my  former  charge,  some  kind  brother  took  me  in 
his  covered  carriage  and  conveyed  me  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  where 
I  remained  with  these  kind  friends  until  I  recovered  strength 
to  return  to  my  work.  My  reception  then  was  of  the  warm- 
est kind.  From  the  children  greeting  me  on  the  street,  up 
to  the  editors  of  our  city  papers,  all  gave  me  a  hearty  wel- 
come. How  cheering  and  impiriny  to  the  minister  of  the 
gospel  is  such  a  reception  by  the  people  of  his  charge,  as 
he  assumes  the  responsibilities  of  a  new  year.  The  work 
having  been  divided  at  our  last  quarterly  conference,  Rev. 
W.  F.  Cowles  was  appointed  to  the  new  charge,  which  em- 


GREAT    REVIVAL  —  CHARLES    C 

braced  what  is  now  called  South  Burlington.  David  N. 
Smith  was  now  Sunday-school  agent  for  the  conference,  and 
made  his  home  in  our  city.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  conference,  was  transferred  to  Iowa  in  1848,  and  sta- 
tioned here  for  two  years,  where  his  labors  were  very  much 
blessed.  In  this  relation  we  had  a  fine  opportunity  to  form 
each  other's  acquaintance.  I  often  invited  him  to  preach, 
as  his  labors  were  always  appreciated,  and  in  this  way  he 
rendered  me  valuable  service.  He  was  a  good  preacher, 
popular  and  successful  in  his  stations,  a  genial  and  cheerful 
companion,  an  honest  man  and  a  true  friend.  He  has 
passed  on  to  his  heavenly  reward.  Erastus  Lathrop  and 
Samuel  Clark  were  early  and  faithful  workers  in  their  Mas- 
ter's vineyard  in  this  state,  and  shared  in  the  honors  con- 
nected with  a  pioneer  life.  Brother  Clark  long  since  joined 
his  brethren  in  his  home  beyond,  and  Brother  Lathrop  is 
still  living  and  laboring  in  the  state  of  Nebraska.  As  the 
division  of  this  city  into  two  stations  was  a  kind  of  experi- 
ment, and  its  utility  doubted  by  some,  each  pastor  went  to 
work  in  earnest  to  build  up  its  interests.  A  church  was  to 
b^  erected  in  the  new  charge,  and  it  required  all  the  tact 
and  energy  of  the  preacher  in  charge,  with  our  co-operation, 
to  consummate  so  important  an  undertaking. 

I  will  right  here  pay  this  tribute  to  Brother  Covvles — that 
in  the  building  of  churches  he  was  eminently  successful, 
and  had  but  few  if  any  equals  in  the  Iowa  conference.  His 
arrows  were  all  steel-pointed  and  well  aimed,  but  he  carried 
a  shield  of  such  a  character  that,  however  well  directed, 
balls  nor  arrows  could  ever  penetrate.  If  there  ever  was  a 
period  in  his  history  when  he  was  in  the  least  discomfited 
by  the  logic  or  the  sarcasm  of  his  opponent,  most  certainly 
it  occurred  in  my  absence;  and  yet,  beneath  this  seemingly 
impervious  armor,  there  was  a  kind  and  sympathetic  heart 
which  responded  to  the  wannest  sympathies  and  honored 
the  noblest  sentiments.  We  labored  together  throughout 
the  year  in  the  spirit  of  harmony  and  love,  and,  so  far  as  it 


138  T  H  S     H  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  W  E  P  . 

was  in  our  power,  contributed  to  each  other's  interests. 
Having  sustained  a  loss  in  the  membership  of  Old  Zion  in 
the  division  of  the  city,  I  felt  like  putting  forth  every  effort 
in  order  to  supply  the  deficiency,  and  accordingly  we  started 
out  in  our  revival  work.  There  seemed  to  be  a  moving 
power  behind  all  our  efforts  at  this  time  different  from  that 
of  the  winter  previous;  then  it  required  Hard  labor  to  make 
any  progress,  but  now  the  good  work  moved  on  in  the  ad- 
vance, and  within  a  few  days  we  were  enjoying  a  blessed 
work  of  divine  grace.  Among  the  many  young  persons 
coming  out  into  the  full  light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel  was 
Charles  C.  McCabe,  now  Dr.  McCabe,  and  assistant  corre- 
sponding secretary  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  then  a  young  man 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  of  fine  appearance  arid  rare 
talents,  and  being  fully  baptized  into  the  spirit  of  the  work, 
he  became  a  power  for  good  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
the  revival.  His  dear  mother,  a  precious  spirit,  died  a  short 
time  previous  to  this  in  the  city  of  Burlington,  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  a  living  faith,  and  left  her  last  blessing  upon  her 
children;  and  now  the  mantle  of  the  mother  had  fallen  upon 
" Charlie,"  her  youngest  boy,  and  almost  within  sight  of  the 
grave  where  her  body  sweetly  reposes,  her  son  was  busily 
employed  in  gathering  jewels  for  his  Master.  Brother 
Cowles  was  frequently  with  us  during  this  blessed  work, 
and  rendered  valuable  assistance.  It  continued  about  six 
weeks,  during  which  time  about  one  hundred  and  thirty 
persons  professed  conversion  and  united  with  the  church. 
Over  one  hundred  were  added  to  Old  Zion,  and  the  remain- 
der to  South  Burlington.  Here  were  some  of  the  fruits  of 
dividing  into  two  charges.  The  Lord  gave  us  back  our  old 
number  besides  the  large  addition  to  the  new  station.  Our 
society  being  so  much  enlarged,  there  was  a  necessity  for 
appointing  some  new  leaders,  among  whom  was  Charles  C. 
McCabe.  He  had  exerted  such  a  saving  influence  among 
the  young  people  during  the  meeting,  that  he  was  now  to 


VISIT    TO    OHIO RAILROAD    ACCIDENT.       139 

assist  them  in  the  path  of  spiritual  life.  The  only  difficulty 
with  our  new  leader  was  his  popularity.  The  room  was  too 
small  to  accommodate  the  class;  and  as  new  accessions  came 
in  weekly,  the  difficulty  increased  upon  our  hands.  But 
relief  was  near.  Spring  returned  again  with  all  its  genial 
warmth  and  beauty,  and  buds  and  blossoms  betokened  de- 
licious fruits  and  the  coming  harvest.  Our  meetings,  too, 
were  full  and  refreshing,  filled  with  the  spirit  of  joy  and 
prosperity,  But  on  my  mind  there  rested  a  burden  and  it 
required  a  sacrifice  to  throw  it  off.  My  divine  Saviour,  whom 
I  loved  and  honored,  had  said  to  me  in  language  not  to  be 
misunderstood:  "That  young  man,  the  leader  of  that  class, 
belongs  to  me.  It  would  be  pleasant  for  you  to  enjoy  his 
society  and  services  in  Burlington,  but  I  have  assigned  him 
to  higher  positions  and  greater  honors;  you  must  let  him 
go."  Brother  McCabe  was  then  in  charge  of  his  father's 
store,  who  himself  belonged  to  this  station,  and  passing  by 
my  room  every  day,  I  called  him  in.  What  momentous  in- 
terests cluster  around  a  few  moments  of  time!  I  delivered 
to  him  my  message  from  the  Lord.  He  listened.  I  saw  by 
the  starting  tear  that  it  had  found  a  hearty  response  in  his 
own  heart,  and  he  was  ready  to  say.  "  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy 
servant  heareth."  I  suggested  to  him  what  was  his  duty — 
to  leave  his  muslins  and  calicos  in  the  store  and  go  to  the 
"  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,"  and  prepare  to  preach  the 
glorious  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Within  a  few  days  he  ob- 
tained his  father's  consent,  received  his  letter  of  dismissal, 
bade  us  farewell,  attended  with  our  prayers  and  tears,  and 
started  for  his  Ohio  home.  The  time,  place,  and  peculiar 
circumstances  of  our  next  meeting  I  will  record  in  a  future 
chapter.  But,  in  relation  to  the  present  history,  permit  me 
to  say  that  among  the  promising  young  men  of  my  ac- 
quaintance, Charles  C.  McCabe  stood  alone.  For  untiring 
zeal,  intense  devotion  to  God,  power  in  prayer,  eloquence 
in  speech,  sweetness  in  song,  and  an  overcoming  faith  in 
Christ,  I  have  not  found  his  equal.  As  he  shook  my  hand 


140  T  II  E     BATTLE     FIE  I,  I)     li  E  V  I  E  W  E  I>  . 

heartily  for  the  last  time  before  starting  away,  all  the  sensi- 
bilities of  my  nature  were  called  into  active  exercise;  and 
long  was  he  remembered  in  the  prayers  of  the  church  in 
Old  Zion,  where  his  sweet  voice  of  song  was  no  longer  heard. 
Inasmuch  as  I  design  to  prepare  a  more  enlarged  sketch  of 
his  life  for  this  book,  I  will  defer  further  remarks. 

The  labors  of  the  past  winter  having  drawn  heavily  upon 
my  mental  and  physical  resources,  the  church  very  kindly 
proffered  me  a  release  of  six  weeks  to  visit  my  friends  and 
relatives  in  Ohio.  Before  starting,  I  had  engaged  different 
brethren  to  supply  my  pulpit  in  my  absence,  so  that  my 
mind  would  be  free  during  my  visit.  The  railroad  having 
been  recently  finished  from  Chicago  to  Burlington,  I  was 
about  to  enjoy  my  first  ride  on  the  cars,  in  company  with 
Brother  Sweeney,  a  member  of  my  charge.  On  a  beautiful 
day  in  April,  we  started  out  to  visit  old  friends  and  my 
former  home.  Our  ride  was  very  pleasant  until  nearing  the 
city  of  Indianapolis,  running  at  the  rate  of  forty-five  miles 
per  hour,  when,  turning  a  curve,  we  ran  over  five  cows  that 
were  standing  on"  the  track.  In  a  moment  two  or  three  of 
our  coaches  were  jumping  on  the  ties,  then  the  right-hand 
wheels  were  plowing  in  the  sand,  which  resistance  turned 
us  up  on  one  side,  and  here  seats,  cushions,  men,  women 
and  children  were  all  piled  up  together.  Such  a  screaming 
and  struggle  to  get  unwedged  I  never  heard  nor  saw;  but 
we  soon  recovered  our  footing,  and  in  a  short  time  were 
free  from  the  wreck,  standing  on  terra  firma,  rejoicing  in 
the  consolation.  All  the  damage  done  to  humanity  was  a 
bad  scare  and  a  few  bruises;  but  the  cars  were  so  much  in- 
jured that  new  ones  were  run  up  from  the  city  to  conduct 
us  on  our  journey.  This,  my  first  experience  with  railroad 
speed,  was  not  very  flattering;  but  we  reached  Cincinnati  in 
safety,  after  which  I  rode  up  to  Lebanon  to  visit  my  old 
friend,  Charles  Ferguson,  who  was  stationed  in  that  city. 
Having  been  separated  for  nine  years,  our  meeting  was  a 
social  and  religious  treat,  and  I  remained  and  preached  for 


T  II  B     GRAVES     OF     FRIENDS.  141 

him  on  the  Sabbath.  After  the  congregation  were  dis- 
missed, two  persons  came  up  to  the  pulpit  and  gave  me  a 
friendly  greeting,  who  had  been  formerly  members  of  my 
charge  in  Burlington.  The  following  week,  by  the  river,  I 
landed  in  Portsmouth,  where,  among  my  friends,  we  revived 
the  pleasant  recollections  of  years  and  events  in  the  history 
of  the  past.  What  an  inspiration  in  nature^  to  revive  and 
cheer  the  human  mind,  and  especially  in  its  contrasts. 
When  we  left  Iowa,  not  a  leaf,  nor  a  flower,  nor  a  blade  of 
green  grass  was  to  be  seen.  But  here  in  Southern  Ohio,  all 
nature  was  putting  on  her  beautiful  garments  and  orna- 
ments, whilst  convocations  of  birds  were  celebrating  the 
transformation  from  winter  to  spring.  How  it  reminded  me 
of  the  sublime  effect  which  must  be  experienced  in  our 
glorified  nature  when  we  place  our  feet  upon  the  golden 
streets  of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  as  we  remember  earth's 
days  of  darkness,  sorrow,  sickness,  poverty,  separations  and 
deaths;  but  now  darkness  is  past,  sorrow  a  stranger,  pov- 
erty unknown,  and  friends  united,  never  to  speak  a  long 
farewell.  Never  in  my  life  before  had  I  seen  such  a  beauty 
in  this  poetic  language: 

y    "Lo,  upward  I  gaze,  and  the  glory  supreme, 
Which  illumines  the  heights  of  elysian, 
Shines  dowu  through  the  vale, 
There  is  light  in  each  beam 
That  renders  immortal  my  vision. 
See,  there  are  the  towers  of  my  future  abode, 
The  city  on  high  and  eternal. 
And  there  is  the  Eden,  the  river  of  God, 
With  trees  ever  bearing  and  vernal.1' 

The  few  weeks  passed  in  this  visit  among  the  friends  of 
my  youth,  the  home  where  I  was  converted,  and  on  that 
consecrated  ground  where  I  preached  my  first  sermon,  and 
gathered  so  many  jewels  for  my  Master,  were  among  the 
happiest  of  my  life;  but  for  a  resting-place^  I  have  long 


142  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

since   learned   that   among  the   last  places  to  find  rest  is  to 
visit  a  former  charge. 

But  what  tender  sensibilities  were  aroused  as  I  stood  by 
the  graves  of  a  father  and  a  little  son  of  five  years.  For  the 
space  of  ten  years  all  that  was  mortal  had  been  reposing 
here,  whilst  the  waving  spruce  and  the  beautiful  rose  were 
paying  a  tribute  to  their  memory;  but  the  immortal  were 
reposing  in  that  land  where  the  sun  ever  shines  and  bliss 
ever  reigns.  Stoical  must  be  the  man  or  woman  who  can- 
not here  find  memories  to  cherish  and  hopes  to  inspire. 
But  as  I  visited  the  resting-place  of  little  /Susan  (a  niece) 
the  next  day,  how  solemn  the  history.  She  was  a  lovely 
girl  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  Attending  the  last  day 
of  school,  she  went  home  with  an  associate  to  pass  the 
evening.  A  young  man  visiting  the  family  had  left  his 
pistol  in  the  room  as  he  stepped  out  to  take  a  little  walk. 
During  the  interval  Susan  and  her  school-mate  came  into 
the  room,  and  not  conscious  of  any  danger,  as  they  were 
amusing  themselves  with  it,  discharged  its  contents  into  her 
brain.  She  fell  back  on  the  sofa  and  expired.  I  was  the 
first  one  to  arrive  after  this  sad  transaction,  and  arranged 
for  the  removal  of  her  person.  It  was  a  shock  of  such  a 
character  as  to  overwhelm  the  parents  with  grief.  Hundreds 
attended  her  funeral,  and  such  a  solemn  occasion  I  never 
witnessed.  And  there,  in  the  little  grave-yard  at  Franklin 
Furnace,  she  was  buried,  and  on  her  head-stone  was  this 
little  verse: 

" Remember  this,  as  you  pass  by: 
As  you  are  DOW,  so  once  was  I. 
As  I  am  now,  you  soon  will  be. 
O,  then,  prepare  to  follow  me !" 

Fifteen  years  had  now  elapsed  since  I  passed  through 
that  sad  history;  and  now,  standing  by  that  lonely  monu- 
ment, there  moved  before  me  a  vision  of  the  past.  I  saw 
her  lovely  face, "always  smiling,  as  she  stood  by  our  fireside, 
or  sat  at  our  table,  in  all  the  hilarity  of  youth.  I  could  still 


GOD'S  GRACE  CHANG  P:  T  H   XOT.        143 

hear  that  merry  laugh,  and  see  the  sparkling  eye.  But  it 
was  only  a  reflection  from  the  history  of  former  days;  and 
with  this  melancholy  pleasure  I  left  these  wasting  memorials 
and  thought  of  the  joy  of  meeting  that  amiable  youth  in 
the  better  land.  But  among  the  reminiscences  of  this  visit 
to  Ohio  was  my  reception  in  the  village  where  in  other 
years  I  had  taught  their  school.  Nothing  could  have  been 
more  gratifying  than  this.  The  little  boys  and  girls  then, 
had  grown  up  to  men  and  women,  and  some  of  them  married 
andsettledin  life.  Atthe  closeof  my  sermon,  their  welcomes 
and  kind  expressions  came  so  thick  and  so  fast  that  I  had 
no  time  fora  suitable  response.  It  was  nothing  less  than  a 
shower  of  greetings  of  such  a  character  that,  with  my  emo- 
tional nature,  it  was  as  much  as  I  could  manage.  And  in 
the  speaking  meeting  which  followed,  so  many  referred  to 
early  impressions  received  in  our  school-room  that  led  them 
to  a  Christian  life,  that  I  was  constrained  to  say:  "How 
precious  are  the  seeds  of  life  sown  in  youthful  hearts!" 

There  is  no  lesson  more  impressive,  to  show  this  world  of 
change,  than  a  visit  to  our  old  home  after  an  absence  of 
many  years.  Hardly  anything  looks  familiar.  The  house, 
the  garden,  the  orchard,  the  old  plav-ground  have  all 
changed.  The  familiar  faces,  so  long  the  title  to  true 
friendships,  are  not  recognized,  and  we  find  ourselves  en- 
circled by  a  new  generation.  How  often  have  I  realized 
this  in  my  meanderings  through  life.  But  amidst  this  whirl 
of  change  there  is  one  comfort  more  precious  than  gold.  It 
is  this:  The  grace  of  God  cliangeth  not.  The  years  of  time 
cannot  deface  it;  moth  and  rust  cannot  corrupt  it;  fire  can- 
not burn  it;  floods  cannot  drown  it;  and  even  death  cannot 
destroy  it.  Imperishable  by  time,  and  lasting  as  eternity. 
I  have  often  been  led  to  inquire,  whether  this  life,  in  its 
variations,  is  in  any  sense  a  type  of  the  glorious  future. 
Doubtless  there  we  shall  still  be  under  the  law  of  change, 
but  not  subject  to  corruption  or  decay,  but  one  of  delight- 
ful progress,  "led  on  to  fountains  of  living  water."  When 


144  T  II  K     li  A  T  T  I.  ]•:     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

we  think  of  meeting  our  dear  little  children  on  the  "shin- 
ing shore,"'  we  entertain  the  idea  that  we  shall  find  them 
just  as  they  were  when  they  left  the  earth.  Perhaps  so; 
we  cannot  tell;  but  is  it  not  more  reasonable  to  suppose 
that,  dwelling  in  the  presence  and  under  the  care  of  the 
blessed  Saviour  for  many  years,  their  immortal  powers 
will  be  greatly  strengthened  and  enlarged,  and  their  divine 
knowledge  greatly  increased?  Who  can  tell  but  that,  in 
some  instances,  in  view  of  their  superior  knowledge,  when 
we  arrive  there  they  may  become  our  teachers  and  we  the 
learners!  If  our  children,  with  our  present  advantages, 
can  become,  within  twenty  years,  our  teachers  here  on 
earth,  will  they  be  less  qualified,  within  twenty  years,  with 
all  the  advantages  of  heaven?  My  dear  reader,  let  us  not 
fail  to  go  and  see. 

However  reluctant  the  disciples  were  to  come  down  from 
the  mount,  our  Lord  had  other  work  for  them  besides  build- 
ing tabernacles.  And  though  I  could  tarry  with  great 
pleasure,  absorbed  with  such  thoughts  and  fond  anticipa- 
tions as  the  above,  yet  the  call  of  duty  is  heard  to  come 
down  to  the  more  practical  work  of  life.  However  jovful 
the  return  to  visit  home  and  friends,  the  departure  is  often 
shrouded  with  tender  and  gloomy  reflections.  As  we  go 
out  from  their  presence,  we  can  but  realize  that  some  of 
those  hands  we  have  shaken  for  the  last  time;  some  of 
these  voices  of  friendship,  and  cheerful  faces,  which  so 
often  infused  inspiration  to  our  hearts,  have  been  heard  and 
seen  for  the  last  time  on  earth.  Our  next  meeting  will  be 
among  the  redeemed  in  the  land  beyond  the  river.  Such 
is  the  historv  of  human  life;  and  a  scrap  of  such  history  I 
am  about  to  make  as  I  leave  my  dear  friends  on  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio,  and  hasten  to  join  others  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi.  As  I  returned  to  Burlington,  every  spiritual 
interest  was  still  prosperous,  and  I  entered  again  upon  my 
work  with  physical  strength  renewed.  During  the  summer 
I  attended  a  camp-meeting  at  Long  Grove,  ten  or  fifteen 


REMARKABLE     CONVERSION.  145 

miles  from  the  city,  of  the  most  interesting  character.  It 
was  a  "season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 
One  afternoon  of  peculiar  interest,  I  invitedt/??vtf  those  who 
were  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  love;  then  those 
who  were  earnestly  seeking  for  it;  and  lastly,  all  who  wished 
to  be  saved.  Such  a  time  of  divine  blessing  is  seldom  wit- 
nessed. Nearly  all  of  the  congregation  were  seekers,  and 
very  many  were  saved;  and  among  the  precious  ones  at 
this  pentccost,  I  shall  long  cherish  in  my  memory  Brother 
A  very  and  family. 

On  our  return  home  from  this  camp-meeting,  we  stopped 
for  dinner  at  W^m.  Johnson's.  He  was  not  a  professor  of 
religion  himself,  but  his  wife  had  been  a  devoted  Christian 
for  many  years.  Having  attended  the  meeting,  he  had 
been  seriously  awakened,  and  was  now  under  deep  convic- 
tion. Just  before  starting,  I  proposed  that  we  should  not 
separate  without  prayer;  and  whilst  asking  the  divine 
blessing  upon  Mr.  Johnson  especially,  the  pressure  became 
too  great,  and  he  surrendered.  He  requested  us  to  continue 
the  prayer-meeting  for  his  benefit;  and  so  we  called  in  the 
neighbors — one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Leffler,  his  brother-in-law, 
and  formerly  a  member  of  congress — and  his  companion, 
with  many  others;  and  thus  we  continued  the  services  until 
time  for  supper.  When  this  repast  was  well  over,  we 
renewed  the  contest  until  almost  midnight,  when  the  bands 
of  sin  and  unbelief  gave  way,  and  heavenly  light  and  holy 
rapture  came  into  his  soul  like  a  flood.  In  no  one  conver- 
sion, among  the  many  witnessed,  did  I  ever  see  such  a 
proof  of  our  Saviour's  language:  "  Except  ye  be  converted 
and  become  like  little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."  After  his  conversion,  he  was  as 
simple  as  a  child  and  happier  than  a  king;  and  we  contin- 
ued our  rejoicing  until  far  in  the  night.  "  It  was  meet  that 
we  should  make  merry,  for  our  prodigal  brother  had  come 
home;  he  that  was  dead  is  now  alive,  and  the  lost  is 
found."  Great  was  the  rejoicing  in  the  community  over 
11 


146  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

this  interesting  occurrence,  as  he  had  long  been  known  as 
one  of  its  prominent  citizens;  and  so  far  as  I  am  informed, 
he  still  lives  in  the  same  house  where  he  was  converted,  and 
has  not  forgotten  that  memorable  hour  when  saints  and 
angels  united  in  concert  to  celebrate  the  glorious  victory. 
A  little  later  in  the  year,  with  some  of  the  members  of  my 
charge,  I  attended  another  camp-meeting  in  Illinois  on  the 
work  of  Rev.  Wm.  Haney.  This  meeting,  in  the  manifes- 
tation of  divine  power,  was  equal  to  if  not  beyond  that  at 
"Long  Grove,"  and  the  influence  of  two  or  three  devoted 
females  was  never  more  apparent  than  upon  this  occasion. 
Sister  Moore,  and  Sister  Porter — referred  to  previously, — 
members  of  Burlington  station,  in  this  battle  for  life,  were 
like  a  Frazer  at  Saratoga;  their  words  of  courage  and 
shouts  of  victory  in  the  grove  as  well  as  at  the'  altar 
carried  success  wherever  they  went.  Defeat  was  nowhere 
written  upon  their  banners,  and  they  knew  no  failure  with 
the  presence  of  Jesus  to  back  them.  Scores  were  converted, 
and  still  more  professed  sanctification  through  the  Spirit; 
and  the  notes  of  victory,  through  faith,  cheered  us  to  the 
end.  The  pastor  reported  about  one  hundred  saved  and 
added  to  the  church  during  these  services;  yet  the  good 
work  did  not  stop  when  the  meeting  closed,  but  it  spread 
through  the  different  neighborhoods  for  weeks  afterward, 
and  very  many  souls  were  "  added  to  the  Lord." 

During  this  summer,  under  the  pastorate  of  Brother 
Cowles,  the'  corner-stone_of  the  new  church  (Ebenezer)  was 
laid  with  appropriate  services,  and  the  occasion  was  one  of 
unusual  interest.  Brother  McCabe,  previously  mentioned, 
having  left  for  Ohio,  Brother  Williams  was  appointed  class- 
leader  to  supply  his  place.  I  little  thought  when  for  the 
first  time  T  called  upon  Brother  W.  to  pray  in  public,  that 
within  a  few  years  he  would  be  filling  the  first  stations  in 
our  church.  As  a  young  man  he  was  quite  timid,  and 
needed  the  influence  of  his  brethren  to  assist  him  forward: 
but  this  reluctance  he  finally  overcame,  and  stands  to-day 


DUBUQUE REV.     THOMAS     CO&KHILL.         147 

at  his  post,  an  honor  to  the  Christian  ministry.  But  the  time 
of  my  "walking  about  Zion  "  has  passed;  my  last  sermon 
has  been  preached,  from  "Peace  I  leave  with  you,"  etc.; 
the  dear  friends  are  all  at  a  social  gathering,  to  which  I  am 
invited  to  spend  the  evening,  and  a  memorial  of  thirty  dol- 
lars is  presented  as  the  last  token  of  their  love.  The  trustees 
of  the  church  pass  a  resolution  of  thanks  for  my  financial 
success;  when,  full  of  gratitude  to  God  and  hope  for  the 
future,  I  wave  a  final  farewell  as  I  enter  upon  new  duties 
and  go  forth  to  other  conquests;  but  such  names  as  Ben- 
nett, Hagar,  Hisey,  Eads,  Pew,  Clark,  Brown,  Cooke,  Dee, 
Sherfy,  Sweeney,  Scarf,  Evans,  Leffler,  Mac,  Jones,  Randall, 
More,  Porter,  Smith,  and  others  not  named,  will  live  in  my 
gratitude  and  affections  until  mortal  life  is  changed  and  I 
'go  to  live  with  them  in  heaven. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Our  conference  for  1854  convened  in  the  city  of  Dubuque, 
Bishop  Ames  presiding.  Having  been  stationed  in  this 
city  four  years  previous,  it  was  very  pleasant  to  enjoy  a 
week  in  the  society  of  former  friends.  My  home  at  this 
session  was  with  Brother  Cook,  an  old  and  intimate  friend. 
Rev.  Thomas  Corkhill  had  been  stationed  here  at  the  last 
conference,  and  took  every  pains  to  make  the  session 
pleasant  for  all.  On  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  conference, 
I  preached  for  Rev.  Wm.  Corkhill,  on  the  Bible  cause,  and 
in  the  evening  the  society  held  its  anniversary.  One  of  the 
speakers  on  this  occasion  started  off  very  finely,  but  when 
about  half  way  through  he  became  confused,  and  then  so 
embarrassed  that  he  could  not  utter  one  word.  He  stood 
before  the  vast  audience  for  some  time  perfectly  silent,  tax- 
ing his  memory  to  loyalty,  but  it  failed  to  perform  its 
office.  He  finally  retired  with  the  honest  apology  that  his 


148 


THE     B  A  T  T  L  E     FIE  L  D     11  E  V  1  E  W  E  D  . 


speech  was  memorized,  and  he  could  not  call  up  the  idea 
in  its  proper  order.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  his  congre- 
gation were  about  as  much  embarrassed  as  he  was,  and 
would  have  given  a  liberal  collection  if  that  would  have 
relieved  the  difficulty.  Speakers  who  memorize  their  dis- 
courses should  see  to  it  that  this  servant  is  very  trustful,  for 
if  that  fails,  there  is  no  remaining  remedy.  As  I  have 
already  alluded  to  Rev.  Thomas  Corkhill,  pastor  of  this  city, 
I  will  now  present  this  tribute.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
ministers  of  this  conference,  and  having  passed  through 
the  medical  course,  he  was  familiarly  called  Dr.  Corkhill. 
He  is  not  only  an  able  preacher,  but  a  Christian  gentleman. 
As  a  pastor  in  the  many  charges  under  his  care  he  has  been 
eminently  successful;  as  a  presiding  elder,  faithful  and  effi- 
cient; so  much  so  that  his  ministerial  brethren  have  honored 
him  with  a  seat  in  the  General  Conference.  True  to  every 
trust,  fully  consecrated  to  God,  may  he  long  live  to  honor 
the  church  and  bless  our  fallen  race. 

Our  conference  session  passed  off  very  pleasantly.  The 
sermon  of  Bishop  Ames  on  the  Sabbath  was  not  among  his 
best  efforts.  The  point  of  main  interest  was  reached  on 
Monday,  in  the  reading  of  the  appointments,  where  it  was 
written:  Dubuque  district,  J.  G.  Dimmett,  presiding  elder; 
Main  Street,  A.  J.  Kynett;  Centenary,  Landon  Taylor.  This 
last  announcement  was  no  surprise  to  me,  as  1  had  pre- 
viously learned  that  I  was  to  be  stationed  here  with  twelve 
members  as  a  nucleus  to  this  new  charge.  Old  Centenary 
was  now  so  improved  that  it  looked  like  a  new  church,  and 
as  I  had  been  a  witness  to  many  victories  around  its  sacred 
altars,  in  previous  years,  it  seemed  very  much  like  coming 
home.  The  official  brethren,  too,  were  old  Christian  friends: 
Brother  George  M.  Samuels,  Ben.  M.  Samuels,  C.  Hether- 
ington,  Brothers  Robbins,  Karrick  and  Bradstreet.  These 
were  so  many  favorable  presages  leading  on  to  a  year  of 
spiritual  prosperity,  and  though  our  numbers  were  small, 
T  was  aware  that  heaven's  resources  were  large.  My 


REV.     A  .     J  .     K  V  X  E  T  T  .  149 

opening  sermon  was  from  this  text:  "  By  whom  shall 
Jacob  arise,  for  he  is  small?"  Before  I  concluded,  I  felt 
very  much  that  the  prisoner  had  become  a  prince;  having 
"  power  with  God  and  with  men,  we  should  prevail."  My 
colleague,  stationed  in  Main  Street,  Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett,  was 
then  a  young  man,  with  only  about  three  years'  experience 
in  the  ministry,  and  he  felt  deeply  the  weight  of  responsi- 
bility resting  upon  him,  which  he  failed  not  to  express  in 
my  presence.  Having  but  small  experience,  and  now  filling 
one  of  the  most  important  charges  in  this  conference,  he 
felt  like  saying:  "Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?" 
Brother  Kynett  being  still  with  us,  and  carrying  a  sharp 
critical  knife,  I  must  be  careful  of  my  pen.  But  if  it  be 
true,  that  the  "  truth  shall  make  us  free,"  I  wish  to  render 
him  all  the  aid  within  my  power.  It  may  be  of  service  to 
many  brethren  of  my  own  conference,  and  no  injury  to 
Brother  Kynett,  to  say,  that  in  some  respects  he  has  been 
misapprehended.  I  remember  well  when  the  current  of 
feeling  was  very  strong  against  him,  in  view  of  the  impres- 
sion that  he  was  an  ambitious  aspirant  for  office;  but  if 
that  ever  was  the  case,  I  am  certain  It  was  not  so  at  this 
date,  being  placed  in  a  position  to  know. 

During  our  conference  at  Burlington,  the  presiding  elder 
came  to  me  and  requested  that  I  should  decide  a  very  im- 
portant question  as  to  my  successor  in  Davenport  station. 
He  stated  "  that  the  choice  lay  between  two  brethren,  one 
of  whom  was  Brother  Kynett,  and  as  I  was  their  former 
pastor  and  understood  their  wants,  and  knew  the  men,  as  a 
matter  of  courtesy  he  wished  me  to  decide  it."  I  at  once 
decided  in  his  favor,  and  I  was  also  aware  that  he  consented 
to  this  appointment  with  great  reluctance.  And  in  the 
expression  of  the  same  feelings  he  entered  upon  the  work 
in  Main  Street,  Dubuque.  I  do  not  know  that  the  doctor 
ever  gave  me  credit,  by  the  above  decision,  in  giving  a  new 
shape  to  his  ministerial  life,  but  it  is  no  less  true.  This 
decision  of  a  moment  gave  a  new  direction  to  his  entire 


1 50  THE     BATTLE     P  I  E  L  B-   R  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

history,  and  I  trust  that  in  the  great  day  when  the  books  of 
this  life  shall  be  opened,  and  their  contents  understood, 
that  it  will  be  approved  by  the  Master  and  honored  by  his 
minister.  Perhaps  no  two  men  of  the  Upper  Iowa  confer- 
ence have  had  a  better  opportunity  for  intimate  acquaint- 
ance and  personal  knowledge,  than  the  doctor  and  myself; 
and  I  record  it  with  pleasure,  that  during  that  experience 
of  thirty  years,  both  in  our  business  and  social  relations,  I 
have  found  him  ever  true;  with  a  heart  to  sympathize,  a  hand 
to  relieve,  and  a  spirit  to  forgive;  in  a  word,  a  safe  coun- 
selor, a  truthful  friend,  and  a  devoted  Christian.  In  every 
relation,  as  a  servant  of  the  church,  he  has  made  an  honora- 
ble record,  and  in  no  one  more  so  than  in  his  present 
responsible  position  as  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Church 
Extension. 

But  I  must  not  forget  that  I  am  now  stationed  at  Cente- 
nary with  only  twelve  members,  and  I  must  go  to  work  to 
build  up  the  interests  of  my  charge.  But  right  here  occurs 
a  touching  little  incident.  I  call  it  touching,  because  it  was 
truly  so,  in  more  senses  than  one.  Whilst  passing  along 
Main  street,  Brother*  Karrick,  one  of  my  official  members, 
called  me  into  a  tailor's  shop  and  addressed  him  thus: 
"  This  is  our  new  minister,  and  I  wish  you  to  do  your  best;" 
and  within  a  few  days  I  stood  up  before  my  audience  in  the 
pulpit  in  the  very  best.  I  began  to  think  if  these  were  the 
first  fruits,  that  I  need  not  fear  for  the  coming  harvest. 
Quite  a  large  number  of  the  members  of  Main  Street  had 
been  inclined  to  say,  after  their  removal  from  Centenary, 
"  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right-hand  forget 
her  cunning,"  etc.;  and  now  that  it  had  been  reopened  they 
returned  to  the  church  of  their  choice.  In  this  way  we 
received  an  addition  of  some  thirty  or  forty  members.  A 
new  Sunday-school  was  now  organized,  with  increasing 
prosperity;  our  house  was  filled  at  every  service,  and  as  one 
item  of  additional  interest,  one  of  the  clerks  in  the  land 
office  was  converted  under  a  sermon.  With  this  growing 


REVIVAL SATAN    OAST    OUT.  151 

interest,  when  the  winter  came  on,  we  were  ready  for  work 
and  salvation.  And  here  it  did  not  need  hard  tugging  at 
the  oar  in  order  to  a  little  progress,  but  the  messenger 
of  mercy  led  the  way,  and  soon  we  were  gathering  spiritual 
fruit  unto  life  eternal.  A  faithful  mother,  living  not  far 
distant,  had  said  to  me:  "I  have  a  dear  boy  in  the  city  -of 
Dubuque,  and  oh,  how  glad  I  would  be  if  you  would  hunt 
him  up  and  persuade  him  to  give  his  heart  to  God."  With 
some  little  trouble  I  found  where  he  was  at  work  at  his 
trade,  and  I  made  him  a  visit.  I  informed  him  that  I  had 
a  message  from  the  Master,  and  he  must  obey.  He  appeared 
a  little  discomfited  with  my  positive  manner,  but  promised 
me  that  he  would  attend  our  meeting,  but  went  no  further. 
In  the  evening  when  the  crowd  assembled,  sure  enough,  he 
was  there.  And  when  seekers  were  invited  to  the  altar, 
sure  enough,  he  was  there.  For  several  evenings  he  was 
faithful  at  the  altar,  but  found  no  relief.  But  the  time  for 
victory  arrived.  I  called  upon  Brother  Kynett  to  pray;  and 
had  it  been  revealed  to  him,  the  important  future  of  that 
young  man,  he  could  not  have  been  more  earnest,  nor  his 
prayer  more  appropriate.  He  seemed  inspired  with  the 
prevailing  Spirit,  and  the  shout  of  triumph  ascended  to 
heaven:  "  The  dead's  alive  and  the  lost  is  found!"  With 
many  others,  the  mother's  boy  is  saved.  A  few  weeks  sub- 
sequent, as  he  was  called  to  leave  to  return  to  his  own  home, 
I  invited  him  to  my  room,  made  known  to  him  my  convic- 
tions as  to  his  duty  to  engage  in  the  ministry,  "  commended 
him  to  God  and  the  word  of  his  grace,"  and  he  left  with  his 
pledge  of  fidelity  to  duty.  True  to  his  promise,  he  shortly 
entered  upon  a  collegiate  course,  graduated  with  honor, 
and  for  nearly  twenty  years  has  been  employed  in  the  work 
of  the  Christian  ministry.  He  has  filled  many  of  the  most 
important  charges  in  the  Wisconsin  conference  and  is  now 
stationed  at  Topeka,  in  the  state  of  Kansas.  That  young 
man  was  Oliver  J.  Cowles.  This  blessed  work  of  divine 
grace  continued  for  several  weeks,  which  brought  up  our 


1  />:i  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     K  E  V  1  E  W  ED. 

membership  to  one  hundred  and  forty.  During  its  progress 
Brother  Kynett  labored  with  me  like  a  brother.  A  large 
number  of  young  men  were  converted  at  these  services, 
over  which  Cyrus  Hetherington  was  appointed  leader. 
Days  of  prosperity  were  these,  and  we  felt  like  saying: 
"Not  unto  us,  but  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  the  praise  is  due." 

As  I  had  rented  a  room  for  study  in  the  city,  adjoining 
mine  was  the  room  of  Mr.  Moreland,  who  had  a  large  class 
of  young  men.  This  was  a  kind  of  commercial  college, 
and  the  teacher  was  a  thorough  scholar,  but  was  dissipated. 
He  was  educated  in  Cincinnati  and  received  the  best  quali- 
fication that  the  Catholic  church  was  able  to  give.  As  he 
had  to  pass  my  room  in  going  to  his,  in  some  instances  I 
had  to  assist  him  to  his  lodgings;  and 'in  one  instance  he 
had  fallen  at  his  door,  and  when  I  found  him  he  had  nearly 
perished.  One  evening  about  ten  o'clock  he  came  knock- 
ing at  my  door,  fearfully  alarmed.  He  cried  out:  "  If  you 
have  any  pity,  do  get  up  and  help  me  drive  Satan  out  of  my 
room!"  Said  I,  "  Moreland,  has  he  come  to  make  you  a  visit?" 
"  Yes,  yes;  hurry;  do  hurry"  said  he,  "for  I  can't  stand 
it  in  this  way."  I  repaired  to  his  room  as 'soon  as  possible, 
and  as  1  entered,  his  lamp  standing  on  the  table,  I  at 
once  took  in  the  whole  situation.  His  eyes  looked  like  two 
balls  of  fire,  and  I  discovered  it  to  be  one  of  the  worst 
cases  of  "snakes  in  the  boots."  Said  I,  "Where  is  he?" 
"Don't  you  see  him,"  he  said,  "on  the  other  side  of  the 
table?  There  he  has  stood  a  long  time,  and  I've  done 
everything  to  drive  him  away,  and  he  won't  bn<l<j<:  <t  //xir. 
Mr.  Taylor,  do  help  me  if  you  can."  Said  I:  "  Mmvlund,  I 
can  manage  him  without  any  difficulty.  I  know  just  how 
to  do  it,  for  I've  ousted  the  old  fellow  a  great  many  times." 
"Have  you?  well,  I  am  so  glad."  I  then  asked  him  if  li<> 
had  a  Bible  in  his  room.  "  O  yes,"  he  answered,  "one  that 
my  sister  gave  me  as  a  present  in  Cincinnati;"  and  in  a  mo- 
ment it  was  brought  and  presented  tome.  „  It  was  a  beauti- 
ful copy  of  the  Catholic  Bible,  a  large  gold-leaf  cross  on 


SAD     EtffclNO     OF     A     LIFE.  153 

the  back;  and  as  I  received  it  I  assured  him  that  this  would 
rout  him.  "Now,  Moreland,  take  this  Bible,  walk  right  up 
to  the  table  where  you  see  him,  and  lay  it  down  as  near  him 
as  possible."  Carefully  he  stepped,  almost  holding  his 
breath,  nearer  and  nearer,  until  he  reached  the  dreadful 
place,  when  whack  it  went  on  the  table.  "  There,"  said  I, 
"Moreland,  didn't  I  tell  you  so?  Didn't  I  tell  you  that  he 
couldn't  stand  the  Bible?  Don't  you  see  that  he  is  gone?" 
"  Well,"  said  he,  "  he  has,  hasn't  he?"  The  vision  had  fled, 
and  his  mortal  enemy  had  disappeared;  and  now  I  per- 
suaded him  to  blow  out  his  lamp  and  retire  to  rest,  assur- 
ing him  that  there  was  not  the  least  danger  of  his  return 
that  night.  To  this  he  consented,  and  slept  until  eight 
o'clock  the  next  morning.  After  breakfast  he  came  to  my 
room,  mortified  and  ashamed,  and  begged  me  not  to  make 
public  the  transactions  of  the  last  evening,  for  if  I  did  it 
would  ruin  him  in  his  business.  He  then  gave  me  his  his- 
tory, and  he  wept  like  a  child.  Said  he:  "Wicked  asso- 
ciates and  liquor  have  brought  me  to  this.  Who  could  have 
thought,  when  I  left  Cincinnati,,  an  honorable  and  upright 
man,  that  I  ever  would  come  to  this?"  I  consoled  him, 
entreated  him  then  and  forever  to  forsake  his  corrupt  asso- 
ciates and  liquor,  and  former  friends  and  habits,  to  which 
he  assented  and  gave  me  his  solemn  pledge  to  become  a  new 
man.  This  was  my  last  interview  with  him.  The  next  I 
heard  he  had  drowned  himself  in  the  Mississippi;  and  here 
his  earthly  history  ends.  Upon  this  sad  history  I  wish  to 
add  a  few  reflections  to  show  the  power  of  faith  even  upon 
an  insane  mind.  His  first  utterances  when  he  came  to  my 
room  proved  this;  for  said  he,  "I  believe  you  are  a  good 
man,  and  can  assist  me."  Here,  faith  was  the  foundation  in 
the  beginning,  and  when  I  informed  him  that  1  could  man- 
age him,  he  was  as  confident  as  a  child;  and  when  I  told  him, 
after  he  had  placed  the  Bible  on  the  table,  that  Satan  had  fled, 
that  positive  assertion  turned  the  whole  delusion  into  air. 
This  was  my  object,  to  turn  the  current  of  his  thoughts 


154  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

into  another  channel,  and  in  this  I  was  successful.  But  oh, 
what  a  monument  of  warning  to  all  young  men  to  shun  the 
society  of  wicked  associates,  and  dissipation!  Another  re- 
flection: That  Satan  becomes  a  real  personage  to  men  in  this 
condition  (even  if  it  be  so),  does  not  require  a  great  stretch 
of  credulity,  for  there  is  such  an  intimate  relation  existing 
between  him  and  the  liquor  interest,  that  if  he  comes  round 
upon  such  important  occasions  to  inspect  his  work,  in  order 
to  report  favorably  to  headquarters,  it  is  no  marvel;  but  to 
step  out  of  the  house  of  God,  where  souls  were  translated 
from  darkness  into  light,  into  such  a  synagogue  of  Satan  as 
this,  was  a  contrast  realized  only  once  in  my  life. 

But  who  is  this  walking  up  the  street — a  rather  short, 
portly  man,  stepping  quickly,  approaching  the  Methodist 
chapel?  It  was  the  day  of  our  quarterly  meeting,  and  cer- 
tainly it  must  be  our  presiding  elder.  I  was  not  mistaken; 
it  was  Elder  J.  G.  Dimmttt,  for  many  years  a  prominent 
member  of  the  old  Ohio  conference,  but  now  filling  this 
responsible  position  in  Iowa.  When  he  first  came  to  Bur- 
lington city,  in  1853,  he  was  attacked  with  the  cholera  and 
his  life  despaired  of,  but  by  almost  superhuman  exertions, 
with  (jrod's  blessing,  he  was  raised  up  to  serve  the  church  for 
many  years.  The  temperament  of  the  elder  was  rather  of 
the  phlegmatic;  sometimes  it  required  an  effort  to  rise 
above  it.  In  warm  weather,  with  a  small  congregation,  the 
pressure  was  beyond  his  control;  but  on  any  important 
occasion,  of  a  nature  to  call  his  powers  into  action,  he  was 
truly  eloquent.  His  voice,  though  not  round  and  full,  was 
musical,  and  when  inspired  in  the  warmth  of  his  subject 
became  bold  and  commanding.  In  his  longest  sermons  and 
happiest  efforts,  he  never  became  hoarse  nor  weary,  neither 
did  any  one  complain  that  he  preached  too  long.  I  never 
knew  him  disconcerted  but  once  in  the  pulpit  upon  an  im- 
portant occasion,  and  that  was  when  six  children,  at  the  top 
of  their  voices,  were  all  crying  at  the  same  time.  His  voice 
rose  far  above  the  tumult  for  some  time,  when  contending 


BROTHER   HARVEY'S   MARRIAGE.  155 

with  two  or  three;  but  when  the  number  was  doubled, 
and  the  instruments  keyed  still  higher,  he  paused  in  the 
conflict,  and  yielded  up  the  palm  to  the  victors.  With  a 
pleasant  remark,  he  accorded  the  honor  to  whom  it  be- 
longed, until  silence  reigned  and  order  was  restored. 
Brother  Dimmitt  at  times  was  subject  to  great  depression 
of  spirits,  which  seemed  to  cast  a  shade  upon  his  ministerial 
character,  but  in  all  my  intercourse  with  him  I  found  him  a 
genial  companion  and  a  true  friend.  Perhaps  no  man  had 
a  profounder  contempt  for  sham  than  he.  When  living  at 
Le  Claire,  at  a  time  when  dancing  was  a  popular  amuse- 
ment among  the  worldlings  of  that  place,  a  gentleman 
dressed  in  the  highest  style  of  fashion  called  on  him  and 
introduced  himself  as  Professor  A.  After  salutations, 
during  which  the  elder  took  the  measure  of  his  visitor,  he 
blandly  remarked:  "May  I  inquire  of  what  you  are  a  pro- 
fessor?" I  am  a  professor  of  the  terpsichorean  art,  sir." 
41  Ah!"  said  the  elder,  "you  mean  to  say  that  you  are  a 
dancing  master."  The  interview  was  not  a  protracted  one. 
Brother  Dimmitt  served  the  church  in  Iowa  not  far  from 
twenty  years,  occupied  the  most  important  positions,  was  two 
or  three  times  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  and  a 
few  years  since,  at  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  in  holy  triumph, 
bade  adieu  to  earth,  and  took  his  position  among  the  re- 
deemed in  heaven. 

My  brother,  Harvey  Taylor,  at  this  time  was  stationed  at 
Maquoketa,  and  needing  help,  I  went  down  and  assisted  him 
about  one  week,  which  effort  was  attended  with  great  suc- 
cess. As  he  had  recently  married  (a  Miss  Sarah  E.  Thomp- 
son of  Tipton,  Iowa),  this  was  my  first  introduction  to  her, 
but  after -acquaintance  proved  her  one  of  the  precious  of 
the  earth.  During  the  most  of  this  year  I  made  my  home 
in  the  family  of  Brother  Kynett,  which  very  much  served  to 
create  the  strong  attachment  so  long  existing  between  us 
and  his  excellent  companion.  And  among  the  precious 
memories  of  this  year,  I  should  be  ungrateful  did  I  not  in- 


156  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

elude  such  names  as  Amanda  M.  Samuels,  a  faithful  worker 
and  a  true  friend,  and  Rev.  James  R.  Goodrich,  a  wise  coun- 
selor and  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  In  taking  a 
review  of  the  history  of  this  year's  labors  and  successes,  I 
am  filled  with  gratitude  to  God  in  view  of  the  prosperity 
which  attended  us  upon  this  charge.  Throughout  the  year 
it  was  one  of  peace  and  progress,  without  a  ripple  on  the 
stream;  and  in  subsequent  years,  and  in  other  states,  I  have 
met  with  those  who  were  converted  in  Centenary  church  in 
the  winter  of  1855.  The  old  chapel  has  passed  into  other 
hands,  and  the  influence  of  time  is  written  on  its  walls;  yet 
when  the  stirring  events  of  this  life  are  all  written  up,  and 
their  results  known,  what  precious  fruits  will  be  gathered 
from  the  labors  of  God's  people  around  the  sacred  altars 
of  old  Centenary: 

u  Yes,  there  is  one  spot,  one  beautiful  spot, 
My  heart  lingers  o'er  with  emotion  ; 
Its  peaceful  enjoyments  will  ne'er  be  forgot, 
It's  the  place  of  the  spirit's  devotion. 
I  see  it  outstretched  in  its  loveliness  lie, 
Like  a  garden  of  lilies  and  roses, 
More  charming  to  me  as  it  fades  from  the  eye, 
Than  the  beauty  of  Canaan  to  Moses." 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

This  year's  history  is  now  concluded,  and  we  meet  again 
in  conference  session  in  the  city  of  Keokuk,  named  after 
the  old  Indian  chief.  For  the  first  time  we  are  visited  by 
Bishop  Simpson,  and  truly  it  was  an  event  of  rare  interest. 
The  bishop  then  was  right  in  his  prime.  We  had  heard 
much  about  him,  but  now  our  eyes  enjoy  the  sight  and  our 
souls  the  benefit.  Being  chosen  for  his  private  secretary, 
I  hud  a  fine  opportunity  for  personal  acquaintance,  and 
found  his  social  qualities  in  accord  with  his  pulpit  abilities. 


BISHOP     SIMPSON     ON     ''LOCATING.1'  157 

Several  of  the  brethren  at  this  time  were  talking  about 
locating,  and  on  the  Sabbath  the  bishop  shaped  his  discourse 
accordingly.  He  preached  from  "But  none  of  these  things 
move  me,"  etc.;  and  such  a  portrait  as  he  drew  of  St.  Paul 
could  have  been  drawn  only  by  a  master's  hand.  He 
traced  him  through  every  stage  of  his  history;  he  marked 
his  stripes,  his  shipwrecks,  his  being  stoned,  the  day  and 
night  in  the  deep,  how  his  brethren  wept  as  he  was  about 
to  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  and  finally  as  a  prisoner  in  Rome.  At 
this  point  he  drew  a  graphic  picture  such  as  I  shall  never 
forget.  He  had  the  old  heroic  prisoner  seated  near  the 
prison  window,  where  he  could  look  out  and  see  the  instru- 
ment of  death,  and  he  is  intensely  interested,  by  its  dim 
light,  in  writing  to  his  son  Timothy  his  last  epistle.  He 
now  invites  his  brethren  to  take  a  walk  with  him  through 
Byron's  "City  of  the  Soul,"  until  they  reach  the  old  prison 
where  Paul  is  confined.  Having  gained  access  to  the  room 
of  the  prisoner,  he  cautions  them  to  step  lightly,  that  they 
may  not  disturb  the  old  veteran  as  he  is  making  his  last 
record  in  time;  and  as  they  move  up  carefully  and  look 
over  his  shoulder,  they  see  the  heading  of  his  manuscript: 
"  Perils  of  waters,  of  robbers,  by  my  own  countrymen,  *  * 
in  perils  among  false  brethren."  And  as  the  eye  glances 
further  down  the  page,  they  read  his  concluding  remarks, 
embracing  his  triumphant  faith,  and  victory  over  death,  as 
embodied  in  this  language:  "I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered, 
and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight;  I  have  finished  my  course;  I  have  kept  the 
faith,"  etc.  And  now  some  inspiring  genius  appears,  hold- 
ing an  interview  with  this  man  of  God,  inquiring  of  him,  in 
view  of  the  perils,  hardships  and  tribulations  of  the  past, 
and  the  certainty  of  a  martyr's  death  now  at  hand,  if  he  is 
not  tempted  to  give  over  the  struggle  and  record  his  defeat. 
He  waits  for  the  answer:  "  But  none  of  these  things  move 
me;  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself  so  that  I  might 
finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  re- 


158  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

ceived  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God."  Here  the  climax  was  reached,  and  such  a  volume 
of  praise  as  went  up  from  that  audience  can  only  be  fully 
appreciated  by  warm-hearted  Methodist  ministers.  After 
such  a  sermon,  no  locations  at  this  conference.  We  were 
entertained  in  the  afternoon  with  a  very  fine  discourse  from 
Dr.  Berry,  of  Indiana,  and  another  in  the  evening  by  Rev. 
J.  V.  Watson,  editor  of  the  Northwestern.  But  the  brethren 
had  ascended  to  the  top  of  "Nebo"  in  the  morning,  and 
had  such  a  look  into  the  spiritual  Canaan,  that  of  necessity 
they  had  to  come  down  a  little  in  order  to  grapple  with  the 
realities  of  practical  life.  This  Christian  Sabbath  was  a 
high  day  for  the  church  in  Keokuk.  This  was  the  last  time 
that  we  looked  upon  the  pale  countenance  and  wasting 
frame  of  Brother  Watson.  We  all  felt  that  he  was  preach- 
ing his  own  funeral  sermon  as  he  discoursed  from  a  For 
we  know  that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were 
dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of  God,"  etc.  And  sure 
enough,  within  a  short  time  he  "  ceased  at  once  to  work  and 
to  live." 

This  was  the  last  conference  at  which  the  whole  state  of 
Iowa  was  represented  by  our  church.  The  necessary 
arrangements  were  made  at  this  session  for  its  division,  and 
at  the  ensuing  General  Conference  the  next  May  we  \yere 
divided  into  the  Iowa  and  Upper  Iowa  conferences.  In 
the  arrangement  of  the  work  for  this  year,  I  was  appointed 
Sunday-school  agent,  and  Rev.  J.  R.  Cameron  was  my  suc- 
cessor in  Centenary.  Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett  was  returned  to 
Main  Street,  Dubuque.  Having  made  arrangements  with 
Rev.  t).  N.  Smith,  former  Sunday-school  agent,  for  his 
team  and  a  quantity  of  books,  I  was  ready  to  engage  at 
once  in  the  work,  still  retaining  my  home  in  Dubuque.  Dr. 
Baird,  presiding  elder  of  the  Pittsburg  conference,  came  to 
our  city  for  the  purpose  of  taking  an  excursion  into  the 
back  counties  in  view  of  entering  a  quarter  section  of  land 
for  each  minister  on  his  district.  Inasmuch  as  I  had  a  little 


SEVERE     WINTER.  159 

leisure,  I  proffered  him  a  ride,  and  he  gladly  accepted. 
The  weather  being  pleasant,  the  roads  good,  and  the  doctor 
first-rate  company,  our  trip  could  not  have  been  more 
pleasant.  We  visited  Grundy  and  Butler  counties,  with 
their  nice  rolling  prairies,  and  having  selected  his  location, 
we  returned  home.  The  "land  office"  being  now  at 
Dubuque,  Brother  Baird  had  some  hard  experience  in  order 
to  secure  his  land.  From  early  morn,  until  night,  great 
crowds  stood  before  the  door  and  in  the  yard.  As  each 
one  had  to  take  his  turn,  those  in  the  rear  had  to  wait  hours 
before  they  could  be  accommodated. 

My  work  in  this  new  relation  was  to  preach  on  the  Sab- 
bath, present  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  cause,  take 
up  a  collection,  and  supply  books  for  the  Sunday-school.  If 
the  school  was  needy,  in  many  instances  the  whole  of  the 
collection  was  returned  in  books.  In  organizing  new  ones, 
1  made  donations  frequently  amounting  to  five  dollars;  but 
one  of  the  pleasantest  parts  of  my  work  was  the  privilege 
of  talking  to  the  children.  In  this  way  I  made  a  great  many 
little  friends,  and,  I  trust,  many  lasting  impressions  for 
good.  During  the  year  I  organized  about  fifty  new  schools 
and  scattered  the  books  of  our  "  Union"  all  over  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state.  Wherever  I  went  I  met  the  heartiest 
reception  from  the  ministers  of  our  conference,  and  they 
did  everything  within  their  power  to  make  the  work  a  suc- 
cess. Richard  R.  Swearingen  being  out  of  employ  a  part 
of  this  year,  I  secured  his  services  in  assisting  me  through 
the  western  part  of  our  conference,  and  he  rendered  me 
very  efficient  aid.  Had  it  not  been  one  of  the  coldest  win- 
ters known  in  the  state  (1856),  I  should  have  regarded  it  one 
of  the  pleasant  and  successful  years  of  my  life.  But  such 
a  winter!  For  weeks,  in  some  instances,  such  was  the 
severity  of  the  weather  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  about; 
in  fact,  it  was  dangerous  to  venture  out,  and  hard  to  keep 
comfortable  within  doors.  At  West  Union,  Fayette  and 
Farmersburg,  had  I  not  fallen  in  with  kind  friends,  I  must 


160  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     It  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

have  perished.  And  I  still  recall  to  this  day,  with  grateful 
recollection,  the  pleasant  home  I  found  in  the  house  of  Dr. 
Fuller,  at  West  Union;  Robertson,  of  Fayette,  and  Webb, 
at  Farmersburg.  A  young  man  at  that  time  was  living  with 
the  doctor,  who  took  much  interest  in  taking  care  of  my 
team;  afterward  he  became  a  member  of  our  conference. 
As  they  were  returning  from  church  one  evening,  after  a 
sermon  by  the  writer,  the  doctor  asked  this  young  man 
"  What  he  would  be  willing  to  give  if  he  could  preach  such 
a  sermon?"  It  seems  that  this  question  made  a  deep  and 
lasting  impression  upon  his  mind,  which  led  him  finally  to 
serious  reflection  and  positive  action.  He  soon  became  an 
authorized  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
for  more  than  twenty  years  has  been  cultivating  Immanuel's 
land  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  That  young  man  was  Francis 
X.  Miller.  ]  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  him  again. 
How  often  we  are  making  valuable  history  when  we  are  the 
least  aware  of  it!  At  that  time  Brother  Fuller  thought  not 
for  a  moment  of  the  result  of  that  simple  question,  and 
perhaps  by  him  it  was  soon  forgotten;  but  it  was  the 
little  mustard  seed  dropped  into  good  soil:  "it  sprang  up 
and  brought  forth  fruit  unto  eternal  life."  And  the  same 
is  true  in  the  case  of  Rev.  F.  M.  Robertson,  now  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference.  He  assured 
me  not  long  since,  that  whilst  remaining  at  their  house  in 
this  extreme  cold  weather,  in  my  conversation  with  him  when 
a  boy,  that  the  impressions  made  upon  his  mind  still  endure. 
And  thus  it  is  true: 

Y  "  In  summer's  heat  or  winter's  cold, 
We  gather  lambs  into  his  fold. 
And  know  not,  when  the  seed  we  sow, 
That  fruit  therffi'<»n  irill  ever  (/row." 

After  the  weather  had  moderated,  1  visited  Brother 
Byam,  stationed  at  Decorah.  He  had  written,  requesting 
me  to  come  and  assist  him  at  a  protracted  meeting,  and 
when  I  arrived  I  found  it  in  progress.  I  remained  with 


I     TAKE     COURAGE.  161 

him  during  the  week,  preaching  for  him  every  night,  but 
seemingly  with  little  effect.  Myself  the  judge,  I  think  if 
I  ever  did  my  whole  duty  in  presenting  God's  truth,  I  did 
it  here.  During  the  entire  services  but  two  young  men 
came  forward  to  the  altar,  and  they  were  converted.  I  had 
been  so  long  accustomed  to  number  seekers  by  scores,  that 
I  must  confess  I  left  that  meeting  feeling  that  but  lit- 
tle had  been  accomplished  in  view  of  the  faithful  labor  per- 
formed. This  impression  remained  upon  my  mind  for  years; 
when,  at  one  of  our  conferences,  a  stout,  hardy  young  man, 
of  fine  appearance,  came  up  to  me,  gave  me  a  hearty  shake 
of  the  hand,  with  "How  do  you  do,  Brother  Taylor?  You 
do  not  know  me,  I  suppose?  Do  you  recollect  how  you 
labored  at  Decorah  in  the  winter  of  1856,  when  during  the 
week  only  two  young  men  embraced  religion?1'  I  answered 
"Yes;  and  that  service  I  shall  never  forget."  Said  he:  "I 
am  one  of  those  two  young  men,  a  minister  of  this  confer- 
ence,* and  the  other  is  a  Baptist  minister,  stationed  at 
Quincy,  Illinois."  When  the  great  Richard  Watson, 
then  a  youth,  stood  up  before  the  British  conference  to 
preach  his  trial  sermon,  he  announced  for  his  text:  u  There 
is  a  lad  here  which  hath  five  barley  loaves,  and  two  small 
fishes;  but  what  are  they  among  so  many?"  Here,  in  this 
question  of  the  disciples,  was  man's  limited  estimate  of  God's 
resources.  And  how  often  in  the  Saviour's  emplov  in  the 
present  day,  we  manifest  as  little  wisdom  and  faith  as  did 
Andrew  in  the  above  language.  We  forget  that  one  loaf 
in  the  Saviour's  hands  is  equivalent  to  a  thousand.  When 
I  saw  the  small  fruit,  apparently,  as  the  result  of  that 
week's  hard  labor,  compared  with  the  scores  which  I  had 
previously  witnessed,  my  estimate  was  like  Andrew's: 
"  What  are  those  two  young  men  compared  with  the 
many?"  But  my  blessed  Lord,  who  fed  the  multitude  with 
those  morsels,  can  so  multiply  the  resources  and  honor  the 
labors  of  these  two  faithful  ministers  that  that  week  may  be 

*  Thi^  voung'  man  was  Rev.  Snydcr,  of  Northwest  Iowa  conference. 

12 


162  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

among  the  most  important  in  my  life.  From  this  lesson  I 
learned  to  trust  the  Saviour  for  results,  rather  than  to  num- 
ber Israel.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Byam,  pastor  of  this  charge,  was 
at  this  time  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordinary  talent;  and 
for  years  was  quite  successful  as  a  minister;  he  became  even- 
tually state  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  was  appointed 
colonel  of  a  regiment,  and  is  now  located,  I  think,  at  Fort 
Dodge,  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  Rev.  J.  R.  Cameron,  my  suc- 
cessor in  Dubuque,  during  this  year  rendered  me  valuable 
assistance  in  sending  out  Sunday-school  books  to  different 
points  on  my  work.  He  entered  the  ministry  at  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  Iowa — I  think  an  old  schoolmate  of 
Dr.  Kynett,  which  rendered  their  associations  very  pleasant 
in  the  city.  A  faithful  servant  of  the  church  he  has  proved 
in  every  interest  where  he  has  been  placed,  and  is  sta- 
tioned at  Maynard  the  present  year  (1881).  When  the  day 
of  reckoning  comes  Brother  Cameron  will  be  ready. 

Not  very  far  from  this  date,  and  the  temperature  of  the 
weather  about  the  same,  I  visited  Rev.  Joel  B.  Taylor, 
stationed  at  Lyons,  his  work  embracing  Clinton  and  Caman- 
che.  He  was  laboring  at  the  latter  place,  with  a  blessed 
revival  on  his  hands,  and  being  very  much  worn,  my  visit 
was  very  timely.  Although  he  had  written  for  me  to  come, 
I  took  him  by  surprise,  and  a  happier  man  could  not  be 
found  in  the  Taylor  family.  It  was  often  said  to  me,  in 
passing  through  the  state,  "I  know  your  brother  Joel,  but 
this  is  my  first  acquaintance  with  you."  Though  not  brothers 
in  the  flesh,  yet  our  relationship  is  very  close  in  several  re- 
spects. Born  about  the  same  date,  converted  and  entered 
the  ministry  about  the  same  time,  began  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  this  new  territory  in  the  days  of  log  cabins  and  crust 
coffee,  at  war  with  the  same  enemy,  sharing  rich  spoils  of 
victory  in  the  same  conflict,  of  the  same  name,  and  with 
titles  to  the  same  rich  and  glorious  inheritance  in  heaven, 
is  it  any  wonder  that  we  are  called  brothers?  Well,  this  is 


REV.     JOEL     B.     TAYLOR.  163 

the  man  whom  I  met  on  Sunday  morning,  just  ready  to 
preach;  so  that  I  stepped  out  of  my  carriage  into  the  pulpit, 
and  preached  on  "Faith  and  its  victories."  This  was  one  of 
those  sweeping  revivals  which  embraced  scores  within  its 
influence,  and  every  obstacle  for  a  time  seemed  to  fall  be- 
fore it;  and  among  its  faithful  workers  Sister  Taylor  was 
one  of  the  first.  We  often  do  injustice  to  our  female  friends  ^ 
in  writing  up  the  history  of  these  miracles  of  grace.  We 
honor  the  names  of  such  a  minister  or  such  a  brother,  when, 
if  the  facts  were  known,  a  faithful  mother,  or  a  devoted 
sister,  was  the  humble  instrument  in  God's  hands  which 
opened  the  way  and  led  on  to  success.  But  when  the  final  / 
award  is  rendered,  Jesus  will  know  upon  what  head  to  place  ! 
the  crown.  I  remained  with  Brother  Taylor  during  the 
week,  as  the  interest  seemed  to  increase,  and  left  at  its 
close  with  great  reluctance.  There  are  no  occasions  in  this 
life  so  well  calculated  to  cement  Christian  hearts  as  a  genu- 
ine work  of  divine  grace,  and  most  assuredly  if  it  creates 
joy  among  the  angels,  shall  it  not  give  heavenly  inspiration 
to  saints  on  earth!  This  meeting  continued  for  some  time 
after  I  left,  resulting  in  a  large  accession  to  the  church,  and 
in  giving  new  life  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

Before  I  pass  on,  I  may  as  well  take  a  glance  at  Brother 
Taylor.*  In  his  own  conference,  where  he  is  so  well  known, 
it  needs  no  pen-sketch  to  describe  the  man;  but  for  the 
benefit  of  other  readers,  I  will  say  that  he  is  of  average 
height,  stoutly  built,  hair  a  little  curly,  and  not  rapid  in  his 
movements.  He  has  a  fine  voice,  and  it  was  said,  in  his 
younger  days,  that  such  were  its  powers  of  penetration,  that 
two  or  three  children,  crying  at  once,  could  not  disconcert 

*  Since  the  above  tribute  was  written,  Brother  Taylor  has  entered  into  his  reward. 


164  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

him.  In  later  years  it  has  become  more  round  and  full,  and 
possesses  great  endurance.  He  seldom  becomes  hoarse 
with  hard  labor.  Very  few  men  excel  him  in  the  gift  of 
exhortation  and  public  prayer.  Some  of  his  exhortations  I 
have  never  known  excelled  for  eloquence  and  power,  and 
when  fully  inspired,  his  prayers  seemed  to  reach  the  very 
heavens  and  capture  a  blessing  for  every  believing  soul. 
In  relation  to  his  education,  Brother  Joel  deserves  much 
credit  in  climbing  the  Hill  Difficulty,  deprived  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  early  culture.  When  he  was  converted  in  l)u- 
buque  county,  and  entered  the  ministry,  the  country  was 
new,  but  few  opportunities  for  an  education,  and,  like  many 
others,  he  carried  his  library  in  his  saddle-bags,  and  on  his 
horse  studied  the  philosophy  of  salvation.  With  all  of 
these  disadvantages,  he  has  been  successful  in  his  work, 
and  seldom  leaves  a  charge  without  making  it  better.  As 
an  evidence  of  his  wisdom  and  discretion,  in  early  life  he 
selected  one  of  the  best  of  companions,  who  has  greatly 
contributed  to  his  success  in  every  responsible  position. 
He  has  been  honored  by  his  brethren  with  a  seat  in  the 
General  Conference;  and  through  all  of  those  thirty-eight 
years  in  the  ministry,  not  a  charge  has  been  presented,  nor 
a  stain  soiled  the  garments  of  his  Christian  character. 
May  the  winding  up  of  his  days  be  peaceful  and  serene, 
and  his  sun  set  without  a  cloud. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  winter  I  took  a  trip  through  the 
northern  counties  of  the  state,  and  on  my  way  called  upon 
Rev.  George  Clifford,  who  was  stationed  at  Colesburg. 
They  had  recently  lost  a  dear  child,  and  were,  passing 
through  the  deep  waters  of  affliction.  Being  a  particular 
friend  of  theirs,  my  visit  was  very  timely,  for  there  is  a  so- 
lace in  trial,  coming  from  the  presence  and  sympathy  of  a 
dear  friend.  I  remained  with  them  for  several  days,  and 
accompanied  him  round  his  entire  circuit.  I  found  him  the 
same  humble,  earnest  and  devoted  brother,  such  an  one  the 
more  you  know  of  them  the  better  you  like  them.  But  with 


NARROAV     ESCAPE.  165 

all  of  his  good  qualities,  at  this  time  he  was  very  much  de- 
pressed in  spirit  on  account  of  financial  embarrassment. 
He  was  involved  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  which  he  found,  with  his  small  salary,  impossible  to 
pay,  and  he  informed  me  that  he  must  locate  to  enable  him 
to  meet  this  demand.  Having  that  amount  on  hand  that  I 
could  spare,  I  proposed  to  loan  him  the  desired  sum,  and  he 
might  pay  me  at  his  convenience.  In  doing  this  he  could 
continue  in  the  blessed  work.  At  this  proposal  the  grati- 
tude of  his  heart  radiated  from  his  countenance,  and  I  left 
him  a  happy  man.  I  am  undecided  as  to  which  of  the  two 
was  the  happiest,  for  if  at  any  period  of  my  life  I  enjoyed 
the  privilege  of  conferring  a  favor  it  was  on  this  occasion. 
Brother  Clifford  remitted  from  time  to  time  until  the  whole 
amount  was  canceled.  I  record  this  circumstance,  not  in 
the  spirit  of  self-gratulation,  but  that  it  may  serve  as  a  hint 
to  others  to  render  like  assistance  in  time  of  need.  Brother 
Clifford  is  still  doing  his  Master's  work  as  presiding  elder  of 
Sacramento  district,  California,  and  when  he  reads  this,  there 
will  be  another  "  communion  of  saints" 

On  my  way  from  Colesburg,  descending  the  Turkey  river 
hills,  I  passed  a  point  of  danger  which  to  this  day  makes  me 
shudder.  In  descending  a  steep  hill,  before  me  at  the  right 
was  a  gully  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  depth,  almost  per- 
pendicular. At  the  worst  place  the  hame-strap  of  my  near 
side  animal  gave  way,  which  threw  the  whole  load  upon  the 
other,  and  within  three  steps  of  the  awful  gully.  All  I 
could  now  do  was  to  trust  God  and  fly  to  the  rescue.  I 
leaped  out  of  my  wagon  and  found  that  my  other  faithful 
animal  was  bracing  for  life.  To  cramp  my  wagon  to  the 
right  or  left,  in  order  to  relieve  the  pressure,  I  could  not, 
for  this  would  have  deprived  her  of  her  foothold,  and  de- 
struction the  consequence.  I  left  all,  ran  up  the  hill  until 
I  found  a  broken  rail,  then  returned,  blocked  my  wheels, 
cramped  my  wagon,  supplied  a  new  strap  for  my  other  horse, 
and  then  pursued  my  journey.  But  that  suspense,  between 


166  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

leaving  my  team  and  returning  with  my  rail,  would  not  have 
been  repeated  with  the  purchase  of  gold.  Never  before 
did  I  place  such  an  estimate  upon  "  Fanny  "  for  heroism  in 
the  hour  of  danger,  and  never  did  I  feel  such  gratitude  to 
my  Lord  for  deliverance  in  the  face  of  death.  Skepticism 
may  sneer  at  such  offerings,  but  whilst  they  are  amusing 
themselves  over  our  credulity,  we  will  be  gathering  strength 
and  courage  from  this  divine  declaration:  "The  angel  of 
the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear  him,  and 
delivereth  them." 

When  the  huge  bodies  of  snow  and  ice  disappeared,  and  the 
ground  was  relieved  of  frost,  such  was  the  state  of  the  roads 
that  for  a  time  travel  was  out  of  the  question.  Raised  in 
the  state  of  New  York,  I  had  heard  much  about  sloughs,  but 
it  takes  a  Western  man  to  know  their  meaning.  At  this 
early  period,  one  entire  trip  through  the  state  would  be 
sufficient  to  graduate  an  apt  scholar,  and  all  the  diploma  he 
would  want  would  be  the  monumental  epistles  read  and 
known  of  all  men.  Not  unfrequently  you  would  pass  a  hack 
(if  pass  you  could),  foundered  in  the  mud  about  two  feet 
deep,  with  three  or  four  rails  lying  by  its  side  as  evidences 
of  their  inefficiency  to  relieve  the  case.  And  in  some  in- 
stances, I  have  seen  the  ladies  riding  in  the  "  hack,"  and 
the  gentlemen  alongside,  each  one  with  a  big  rail  on  his 
shoulder,  ready  to  pry  out  of  the  next  slough.  This  they 
called  "  working  their  passage."  And  right  here,  as  it  comes 
in  so  naturally,  I  must  furnish  my  readers  with  an  amusing 
episode,  in  the  way  of  spice.  A  clerical  gentleman  and 
his  lady,  taking  their  bridal  trip  through  the  country  at  this 
time  of  the  year,  encountered  this  slough  difficulty  in  a  very 
practical  way.  The  road  being  sidling,  and  they  occupying 
an  outside  seat  on  the  carriage,  a  sudden  reel  of  the  hack 
tumbled  them  both  out  into  the  deep  mud.  This  was  rather 
a  hard  experience  for  the  first  fruits  of  the  "honey-moon," 
inasmuch  as  they  had  on  their  best,  and  endangered  the 
well-being  of  a  new  wig,  which  had  been  purchased  at  quite 


REV.    F.    AMOS LIBERAL    COLLECTION.       167 

an  expense,  in  order  to  supply  hair  where  it  was  not.  It 
was  an  occasion  of  so  much  interest  as  to  wake  up  the 
muses,  and  gave  inspiration  to  this  parody: 

"Away  went  Gilpin,  hat  and  wig, 

Away  went  Gilpin,  he, 
And  landed  with  his  Sunday  rig 

In  mud  up  to  the  knee. 
He  struggled  hard  and  waded  out ; 

But,  oh !  the  sight  to  see ; 
His  hat  was  gone,  his  wig  was  lost, 

And  very  bald  was  he, 
And  said  if  hacks  were  such  a  bore, 

Such  pleasure  ends,  forever  more" 

Thus  you  see  we  had  poets  in  those  days  who  could 
pluck  poetry  out  of  sloughs,  and  whilst  the  sufferers  were 
cleaning  their  boots  and  recovering  their  losses,  the  muses 
had  transformed  the  whole  scene  into  poetic  history.  And 
if  it  be  a  fact  that  the  scenery  with  which  we  are  sur- 
rounded gives  character  to  our  productions,  we  are  not  at 
all  surprised  that  the  above  incident  should  have  aroused 
the  muses  from  their  slumbers.  But  the  days  of  traveling 
in  hacks  in  Iowa  has  nearly  passed,  and  the  iron-horse  has 
taken  its  place,  and  the  probabilities  are  that  poetic  genius 
will  no  longer  be  taxed  to  turn  such  misfortunes  into  verse. 
And  my  friend  above  says,  "  Let  it  come!" 

Having  such  an  extensive  field  of  labor  in  this  Sunday- 
school  work,  embracing  more  than  half  the  state,  I  cannot 
enter  into  all  the  interesting  details,  neither  dwell  upon  the 
many  stirring  incidents  of  the  year;  but  I  must  again  record 
with  great  satisfaction  the  hearty  welcome  and  salutary 
help  rendered  me  by  the  ministerial  brethren  of  our  confer- 
ence. So  seldom  anything  of  peculiar  interest  occurs  in 
presenting  causes  of  benevolence,  and  in  the  taking  up  of 
collections,  that  I  must  step  aside  a  little  and  note  an  excep- 
tion. At  this  time,  Rev.  F.  Amos  was  stationed  at  Dewitt, 
and  as  I  was  to  preach  for  him  on  Sunday  evening,  he 


168  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

requested  that  before  the  collection  was  taken  he  might  be 
permitted  to  follow  the  sermon  with   an   exhortation.     To 
this  I  assented  with  pleasure.     He  started  out,  commending 
my   sermon    and   the    value   of  the   cause   in   which  I  was 
engaged,  and  the  great  contrast  between  our  tract  and  Sun- 
day-school literature  and  the  yellow-leafed  trash  circulating 
through  the  land,  and  that  it  was  our  duty   as   Christians, 
and    even   good    citizens,  to   use    every    exertion    to    sup- 
press the  one   and  promote  the   other.     He    stated  to  his 
audience  that  this  was  the  work  in  which  the  Sunday-school 
agent  was  engaged,  which  was  a  strong   motive  why  they 
should  liberally  contribute.  "  But,"  he  remarked, c;  there  are 
other  reasons  why.     Your  reputation  as  a   circuit  depends 
very  much  upon  your  generosity  in   this  matter,  inasmuch 
as  Brother  Taylor  will  report  you  to  conference,  and  if  they 
hear  that  Dewitt  sent  up  a  little  puny  morsel  in  a  cause 
like  this,  they  will  decide  that  you  are  a   "  small  fry,"  and 
will  send  you  a  one-horse  preacher,  just  as  they  did  this  year. 
Now,  if  you  desire  to  escape  these  consequences,  I  advise 
you  to  shell  out  liberally"     Such  overpowering  motives  as 
these  could  not  be  resisted,  and  the  result  was  a   first-rate 
report  from  the  charge.     You  may  recollect  that  Brother 
Amos  was  the  man  that  met  Mr.  Sanford  (Universal  ist)  in 
a  theological  fight,  and  left  the  field  with  his  colors  flying. 
He  still  lives  in  the   city  of  Maquoketa,  Jackson   county, 
Iowa,  and  though  he  left  one  arm  on  the  battle-field  in  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  he  did  not  lose  the  dignity  of  a  Chris- 
tian soldier  and  a  true  man.    I  could  still  pass  over  this  fruit- 
ful field  of  youthful  culture  with  the  greatest  degree  of  pleas- 
ure;   I  could    show   you   groups   of   little    boys  and  girls 
around  my  wagon,  pleading  with  their  parents  to  purchase 
a  book  for  them  that  they  could  call  their  own;  I  could 
refer  you  to  instances  where  children  were  the  instruments 
in  God's   hands  in  the   promotion   of  blessed   revivals;  but 
other  fields  are  before  me  to  cultivate,  and  I  must  not  honor 
the  one  at  the  expense  of  the  other.     But  before  taking  my 


DR.     FULLER.  169 

leave  of  this  field  of  labor,  1  must  refer  to  my  first  and 
happy  introduction  to  Dr.  Fuller,  afterwards  a  member  of 
our  conference,  but  now  in  heaven.  In  our  last  interview 
before  he  left  us,  he  gave  me  this  statement:  "I  was 
practicing  medicine  beyond  Mt.  Vernon,  and  hearing  that 
the  Sunday-school  agent  had  an  appointment  at  a  distant 
school-house,  I  concluded  I  would  go  and  hear  what  he 
had  to  say.  As  I  entered  the  room  I  saw  a  stranger  sitting 
near  the  stove;  and  soon  he  began  to  sing  'From  every 
stormy  wind  that  blows,'  etc.  It  was  new  to  me,"  said 
the  doctor,  "  and  as  he  proceeded,  I  saw  the  tears  passing 
down  his  cheeks,  and  I  said,  'we  will  have  something 
worth  hearing  to-day.'  After  singing,  he  arose  and  took 
for  his  text:  '  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wis- 
dom.' I  was  not  only  edified,  but  my  soul  was  very  much 
blessed,  and  the  influence  of  that  hour  has  never  been  lost. 
I  was  then  a  Baptist  minister,  but  soon  united  with  the 
Methodists,  among  whom  I  have  labored  to  the  present  time; 
and  though  nearly  twenty  years  have  passed,  I  cherish  the 
memory  of  that  afternoon  with  the  greatest  pleasure."  How 
little  did  I  think,  and  as  little  did  he,  in  our  last  interview 
on  earth,  when  making  this  simple  statement,  that  it  would 
become  future  history;  but  here  it  is  recorded,  and  per- 
haps will  remain  and  be  read  bv  hundreds,  if  not  thousands, 
long  after  our  admittance  into  the  heavenly  kingdom. 
About  three  years  from  the  time  above  referred  to,  he  was 
appointed  my  successor  as  pastor  at  Sioux  City,  at  my 
request,  and  was  very  successful  in  building  up  the  inter- 
ests of  the  church.  His  was  an  honorable  record  on  earth, 
and  I  doubt  not  but  that  his  reward  will  be  glorious. 


170  THE     BATTLE    FIELD     REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

Our  conference  session  was  held  this  year  (1856)  at  Ma- 
quoketa,  and  this  was  the  first  for  Upper  Iowa.  Bishop 
Janes  was  again  with  us, — always  welcome, — and  the  writer 
was  elected  secretary,  with  Rev.  Elias  Skinner  for  assistant. 
Brother  Skinner  was  one  of  the  old  members  of  our  con- 
ference, and  a  most  excellent  secretary.  He  excelled 
in  correct  forms  of  expression.  Being  treasurer  of  the 
missionary  society  this  year,  as  well  as  secretary,  I  had  two 
men's  work,  in  which  Wm.  M.  Doughty,  our  book  agent  at 
Chicago,  rendered  me  valuable  assistance.  I  had  made  my 
arrangements  to  continue  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school 
agency,  as  the  experience  of  the  year  past  enabled  me  to 
understand  its  wants,  but  a  man  was  wanted  for  Sioux  City 
district,  and  no  one  could  be  found  willing  to  go.  Several 
of  the  older  brethren  had  been  consulted,  but  the  honor 
was  of  such  a  character  that  they  chose  not  to  accept  it. 
As  the  last  extremity,  toward  the  close  of  the  conference  the 
bishop  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  room  in  order  to  see  if  I 
could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  go.  As  I  entered,  he  informed 
me  that  "  they  had  come  to  a  full  stop,  and  could  proceed 
no  further  in  their  conference  business  until  they  found  a 
man  for  the  Missouri  valley;  that  several  of  the  brethren 
had  been  solicited  to  go,  but  refused,  and  now  he  wished  to 
know  whether  I  was  willing."  I  answered,  "  Bishop,  if 
this  is  your  only  hope,  put  me  down."  Such  congratula- 
tions as  then  came  from  the  bishop  and  presiding  elders  do 
not  often  occur  in  his  cabinet,  when  Elder  Dimmitt  cried 
out:  "Brother  Taylor,  live  forever!"  The  dead-lock  was 
now  broken;  the  notes  of  victory  had  calmed  down,  and  I 
was  booked  for  the  honorable  position.  I  was  fully  aware 
that  it  required  a  sacrifice  to  leave  many  friends,  and  well- 
organized  society,  and  travel  a  distance  of  three  hundred 


"WE    GLORY    IN    TRIBULATIONS    ALSO."       171 

and  fifty  miles,  and  then  to  find  no  society  and  but  few  of 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life.  But  then  I  knew 
also  that  forests  could  not  be  explored  and  new  countries 
settled  and  cultivated  without  the  courage  of  the  hardy 
pioneer,  and  I  was  willing  to  accept  my  share  and  stand 
up  boldly  at  the  call  of  duty;  and  should  small  rations  or 
hardships  intervene,  no  human  being  could  meet  them  with 
greater  fortitude  or  a  better  grace  than  a  true  minister  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  Such  were  my  convictions;  and 
inspired  with  the  fortitude  that  Christ  only  imparts,  I 
accepted  the  perils  and  awaited  the  honors.  In  reading 
the  appointments,  when  the  bishop  came  to  "  Sioux  City 
district,  Landon  Taylor;  Sioux  City  station,  Landon  Tay- 
lor," he  paused;  then,  with  the  emphasis  which  he  only 
could  impart,  he  exclaimed:  "Glory  enough  for  one  man!" 
In  relation  to  my  own  history,  I  suppose  this  might  be 
called  a  "new  departure"  So  far  as  territory  was  con- 
cerned, one-fourth  of  the  state  was  under  my  supervision, 
and  being  presiding  elder  and  stationed  preacher  also,  I 
was  endowed  with  double  honor. 

All  things  in  readiness,  I  started  for  the  "  western  slope," 
accompanied  by  Rev.  D.  J.  Havens,  the  son  of  the  vener- 
able James  Havens,  of  the  Indiana  conference.  Brother 
Havens,  not  being  very  well,  about  the  third  night  out,  having 
to  sleep  in  our  wagon,  passed  through  a  hard  experience. 
Being  the  first  of  September,  the  mosquitoes  were  without 
number,  and  as  this  peril  had  not  been  anticipated,  our  net- 
ting was  not  on  hand.  Such  a  night's  rest  was  not  refresh- 
ing, and  when  daylight  appeared,  my  colleague  concluded 
that  if  this  was  a  foretaste  of  the  bishop's  "  glory  " — referred 
to  in  conference — the  consummation  must  be  decidedly 
rich.  But  so  far  as  mosquito  experience  was  concerned, 
this  was  but  the  beginning,  for  they  gathered  strength  in 
ratio  to  the  distance,  until  near  Webster  City,  when  we 
put  up  for  the  Sabbath  at  a  Yankee  farm-house,  where  we 
found  protection,  and  improved  it.  On  Monday  morning, 


172  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

starting  out  on  the  prairie,  Brother  Havens  in  the  advance, 
with  a  hatchet  in  his  hand,  some  prairie  chickens  flew  up 
before  him,  when  he  let  fly  his  hatchet  and  took  off  one's 
head.  Nothing  occurred  on  our  route  so  inspiring  to  him 
as  this.  Being  low  in  spirits  in  view  of  his  illness  and  loss 
of  sleep,  this  little  feat  seemed  to  break  the  monotonous 
spell  and  placed  him  on  a  higher  plane  of  enjoyment;  and 
in  addition  to  this,  when  we  reached  Sac.  City  and  enjoyed 
the  luxury  of  a  good  cup  of  coffee  at  Mr.  Austin's,  where 
we  passed  the  night,  we  both  felt  like  new  men;  for  this 
was  the  first  enjoyed  on  our  way.  We  were  now  within 
one  hundred  miles  of  Sioux  City,  and  "rejoiced  in  the  con- 
solation." At  this  point  the  weather  turned  cooler,  and 
two  successive  frosts  swept  the  crop  of  corn  throughout  the 
western  part  of  the  state  and  closed  up  our  mosquito  his- 
tory for  that  fall.  On  our  way  down  the  Maple  valley  we 
met  Brother  Black,  who  had  been  laboring  on  this  district 
the  past  year,  and  he  conducted  us  to  Brother  Vandorn's, 
near  Southland,  where  we  remained  over  the  Sabbath. 
Here  at  Smithland,  thirty  miles  from  the  city,  I  preached 
my  first  sermon  on  my  district,  and  Brother  Havens  his 
opening  discourse  on  his  circuit.  If  the  time  ever  was  in 
my  official  history,  when  I  could  appropriate  the  language  of 
Cowper,  I  could  do  it  now  without  scruple: 

"  I  am  monarch  of  all  I  survey, 

My  right  there  is  none  to  dispute; 
From  the  center,  all  round  to  the  sea, 
/  am  lord  of  the  fowl  and  the  brute." 

It  was  said  of  one  of  our  brethren,  when  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  presiding  elder,  that  he  started  off  singing: 

u  This  is  the  way  I  long  have  sought, 
And  mourned  beanine  T  found  it  not." 

But  no  such  mournful  review  was  I  tempted  to  sing  during 
all  my  authoritative  history  on  Sioux  City  district.  Had  I 
been  so  tempted  at  any  time,  a  circle  of  nearly  three  hundred 


SEVERE    WINTER PERILOUS    JOURNEY.     173 

miles  around  it,  through  creeks  and  sloughs,  and  roving  In- 
dians, with  swarms  of  flies  and  mosquitoes,  would  have 
changed  the  meter  into  this: 

"Better  dwell  in  the  midst  of  alarms 
Than  to  reign  in  this  horrible  place." 

On  my  arrival  at  Sergeant's  Bluff,  I  met  Brother  Clark, 
who  gave  me  a  hearty  reception,  and  kindly  proffered  to 
take  me  in;  and  at  Sioux  City,  Brother  and  Sister  Yeomans 
had  always  an  open  door  and  words  of  welcome.  These 
two  places  had  been  rivals,  but  Sioux  City,  at  this  time,  was 
so  far  in  the  advance  that  its'  superiority  was  settled.  Dr. 
Yeomans  had  been  a  practicing  physician,  but  was  now  reg- 
ister of  the  land  office  in  this  place,  and  a  local  preacher  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  warm  reception  given 
me  by  these  brethren  greatly  contributed  to  relieve  the  hard 
experience  whilst  passing  through  the  state,  and  make  me 
feel  at  home  among  strangers  and  in  a  strange  land.  As 
Sergeant's  Bluff  was  more  in  the  country,  and  I  had  a  team 
to  provide  for,  I  remained  for  a  while  with  Brother  T. 
Elwood  Clark.  The  fall  of  1856  was  very  beautiful,  and 
within  a  few  days  I  went  to  work  and  put  me  up  an  office 
12  by  16,  and  before  cold  weather  I  had  it  finished,  using  it 
for  a  study,  bed-room  and  chapel.  Council  Bluffs  was  one 
hundred  miles  south  of  us,  upon  which  we  depended  for 
provisions,  but  the  weather  had  been  so  pleasant  during  the 
month  of  November  that  a  supply  had  not  been  obtained. 
On  the  first  day  of  December,  winter  commenced  with  snow 
from  the  northwest,  increasing  in  severity  until  the  after- 
noon of  the  second  day,  when  the  climax  was  reached.  To 
give  my  readers  something  of  an  idea  of  its  character:  About 
two  P.  M.  I  started  from  my  office  to  dinner,  about  ten  rods 
distant.  When  about  one  rod  on  my  way  I  became  lost;  not 
being  able  to  see  my  hand  before  me,  and  the  storm  cutting 
my  breath,  I  halted  and  queried:  "Strange,  if  I  should 
perish  within  a  few  feet  of  my  door!"  But  I  thought,  "as 


174:  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

I  am  facing  the  storm  northwest,  if  I  return  southeast  1  will 
strike  my  office;"  and  this  happy  idea  brought  me  into  safe 
quarters,  but  dinner  was  dispensed  with  for  that  day.  The 
storm  continued  for  three  days,  and  snow  reached  the  depth 
of  four  feet  on  the  level,  accompanied  with  a  crust  so  hard 
as  to  bear  up  a  man.  This  was  truly  a  snow  blockade,  for 
no  one  could  travel  for  weeks,  and  the  people  being  short 
of  provisions,  many  had  to  subsist  upon  hominy  and  a  few 
potatoes.  Such  were  some  of  the  honors  arising  out  of  my 
new  relation  to  the  church;  but  I  was  so  much  better  pro- 
vided for  than  many  of  the  sectlers  around  me  that  I  felt 
truly  thankful;  for  whilst  they  were  restricted  to  corn  and 
potatoes,  we  were  favored  with  a  little  bacon  in  addition, 
which  was  our  substitute  for  butter,  for  this  last  article  was 
not  to  be  obtained  for  love  or  money.  But  the  time  soon 
came  when  our  larder  was  exhausted  and  something  must 
be  done.  The  snow  is  four  feet  deep,  every  day  the  storm 
is  raging,  the  roads  are  fearful,  and  almost  impassable,  and 
if  we  start  for  Council  Bluffs  after  provisions,  we  may 
perish.  Such  was  a  true  picture  of  our  situation  at  this 
time.  But  there  is  no  other  alternative.  So  Brother  Clark 
and  myself,  each  one  with  a  team,  started  out  upon  this 
perilous  journey  of  one  hundred  miles.  When  we  met  a 
team  loaded,  we  gave  the  whole  road.  In  that  event  we 
shoveled  a  side-track  sufficiently  large  to  admit  our  team 
until  the  other  went  by,  then  returned  to  the  beaten  road. 
And  thus  we  continued  until  we  reached  our  place  of  des- 
tination. Having  obtained  our  supply  in  turn,  we  faced 
the  storm,  which  at  times  was  so  furious  that  we  could 
scarcely  see  our  teams,  the  drifts  filling  up  the  road  as  soon 
as  it  was  broken,  when  on  the  eighth  day  we  reached  home, 
incurring  the  greatest  dangers  and  the  most  severe  experi- 
ence of  my  life.  But  the  peril  was  passed,  the  goal  was 
reached,  and  the  material  furnished  for  this  page  of  history. 
Such  was  the  depth  of  snow  during  this  winter  that  in  some 
instances  it  was  dangerous  to  venture  far  from  home,  in  view 


HARBINGERS     OF      HOPE.  175 

of  the  hungry  wolves.  Mr.  Little,  where  we  put  up  for  the 
night,  had  been  out  to  his  grove,  about  one  mile  from  home, 
after  a  load  of  wood,  when  his  large  dog  was  encountered 
by  several  wolves,  which  within  five  minutes  left  nothing 
but  his  bones;  and  the  owner  had  to  flee  for  life,  and  left 
his  wood  behind.  And  in  another  instance,  a  negro  had 
been  out  a  little  distance  from  home,  chopping,  when  on 
his  return  he  was  driven  by  a  pack  of  wolves  into  a  fence 
corner,  where  his  remains  and  his  axe  were  found,  with  six 
dead  wolves  lying  by  his  side. 

During  this  severe  winter  I  did  not  lose  but  one  appoint- 
ment, and  that  was  the  Sabbath  made  vacant  by  my  trip  to 
Council  Bluffs.  Safely  housed  again  after  this  trip  of  two 
hundred  miles,  it  was  a  comfort  to  think  that  we  had  pro- 
visions enough  to  meet  our  present  wants;  but  what  of 
many  of  our  neighbors?  Many  were  reduced  to  the  last 
extremity,  subsisting  for  weeks  on  parched  corn,  and  nearly 
perishing  for  want  of  wood.  But  this  was  not  all.  The 
severe  frost  in  September  cutting  off  the  corn  crop,  but 
little  was  left  for  subsistence,  and  even  that  was  very  poor. 
I  paid  two  dollars  per  bushel  for  such  inferior  corn  in  order 
to  keep  my  team  through  the  winter.  But  in  the  midst  of 
this  dreary  weather,  hedged  in  on  every  side  by  snow-drifts, 
cut  off  as  it  were  from  the  blessings  of  good  society  for 
months.  I  could  realize  all  that  is  meant  in  this  stanza: 

"  From  every  stormy  wind  that  blows, 

From  every  swelling  tide  of  woes, 

There  is  a  calm,  a  sure  retreat: 
'Tis  found  beneath  the  mercy-seat" 

Through  the  varied  experiences  of  my  ministry  I  have 
treasured  up  this  lesson — that  friendships  formed  through 
the  historv  of  perils  and  hardships  in  a  new  country  are 
very  sacred  and  of  an  enduring  character.  This  idea  is 
embraced  by  our  Saviour  when  he  said  to  his  disciples: 
"Ye  are  they  which  have  continued  with  me  in  my  tempta- 
tions." Take  old  soldiers,  for  example,  who  have  shared 


176  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  hardships  and  faced  the  dangers  on  many  battle-fields; 
let  them  meet  after  a  separation  of  many  years,  the  out- 
gushing  emotions  from  the  memory  of  past  experiences  are 
beyond  control.  The  rush  of  past  events  turns  toward  each 
other  the  currents  of  affection,  and  for  a  time  the  old  hero 
becomes  a  child.  The  same  is  true  in  the  maturity  of 
Christian  friendships  created  in  distant  lands,  and  through 
the  trials  of  a  new  country. 

From  this  little  digression  we  will  return  to  our  narrative. 
There  were  two  or  three  oases,  however,  in  this  wintry  des- 
ert, that  served  to  break  the  dreary  solitude  and  awaken  up 
new  interests  and  pursuits.  During  the  beautiful  fall,  two 
or  three  enterprising  men  came  in  from  other  states  and 
sojourned  with  us  during  the  winter  season,  and  their  pres- 
ence and  cheerful  spirits  were  like  sunshine  in  the  glade. 
These  were  Brother  E.  R.  Kirk,  from  Ohio,  and  Alexander 
and  Cornelius  McLean,  from  New  York  city.  The  first  two 
passed  the  winter  with  us  at  Sergeant's  Bluff,  and  it  mat- 
tered riot  whether  storm  or  sunshine,  with  them  "December 
was  as  pleasant  as  May."  But  I  have  long  since  learned  that 
it  requires  less  grace  to  be  cheerful  and  jovial  sitting  by  a 
warm  fire  than  in  facing  a  driving  snow-storm  from  the 
northwest.  But  such  they  were,  and  we  were  very  thank- 
ful for  it,  though  backed  up  by  favorable  circumstances; 
for  they  served  as  harbingers  of  hope  in  a  dreary  land. 
Brother  McLean  being  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.E.  church, 
often  rendered  me  assistance.  He  continued  with  us  most 
of  the  year,  very  much  respected,  when  he  returned  to  New 
York,  and  is  now  a  member  of  that  conference.  Brother 
Kirk  is  now  residing  in  Sioux  City,  and  among  its  promi- 
nent citizens.  Brother  Havens  having  charge  of  Smithland 
circuit,  as  soon  as  the  weather  would  permit,  I  made  him  a 
visit,  and  continued  our  meeting  nearly  one  week.  Quilt1 
a  number  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church.  Among 
them  was  the  lady  of  the  house  where  Brother  Havens  was 
making  his  home.  Her  husband  a  few  months  previous, 


SPIRIT    LAKE    MASSACRE INDIAN    BRAVE.     17? 

owning  a  saw-mill  in  the  town,  was  caught  by  his  cir- 
cular saw  and  killed  instantly.  He  was  a  man  very  much 
respected.  His  last  words  were:  "  Oh,  my  dear  wife!"  and 
expired.  His  wife  was  a  talented  and  amiable  woman,  and 
during  that  year  her  name  was  changed  to  Havens,  the 
marriage  ceremony  taking  place  at  the  residence  of  Doctor 
Yeomans,  at  Sioux  City. 

Having  to  pay  two  dollars  per  bushel  for  corn,  and  but 
little  to  be  had  at  that,  I  concluded  to  raise  a  patch  of  my 
own;  and  as  the  spring  came  on,  I  made  my  arrangements 
accordingly.  In  the  ensuing  fall  I  had  enough  for  my  own 
use  and  some  to  spare.  Whilst  preparing  to  plant,  that 
fearful  history  occurred — the  Spirit  Lake  massacre.  As 
this  account  has  been  distorted,  having  taken  place  on 
my  district,  I  will  give  the  facts  as  they  were.  The  Indians 
having  camped  near  Smithland  for  the  purpose  of  hunting 
and  fishing,  occasionally  some  few  would  pass  through  the 
town.  At  this  time,  three  or  four  called  in  at  a  small  store, 
with  a  few  ears  of  corn  gathered  up  in  a  field  thrown  out 
to  the  commons.  A  few  of  the  whites,  or  rather  roughs, 
asked  them  where  they  had  obtained  their  corn,  to  which 
the  Indians  frankly  replied.  No  more  was  said,  but  the 
whites  went  out  into  a  thicket,  cut  each  one  a  hickory,  then 
returned,  fell  upon  the  Indians,  and  chased  them  into  their 
camp.  The  males,  most  of  them,  being  absent  on  a  hunt, 
the  whites  gathered  up  all  of  their  guns  remaining,  and 
brought  them  to  Smithland,  having  made  them  promise, 
before  they  left,  that  on  the  following  day  they  would  go 
down  and  shake  hands  with  the  Omahas,  another  tribe, 
which  the  Indians  knew  would  be  certain  death.  When 
the  hunters  returned  and  found  what  had  been  done,  they 
started  in  the  night  for  the  Cherokee,  and  commenced  their 
depredations.  Some  forty  or  fifty  of  the  whites  were  killed 
and  several  of  the  Indians.  When  I  tell  you  that  liquor 
was  the  moving  cause,  my  readers  will  not  need  any  further 
explanation.  I  have  read  several  incorrect  statements  in 
18 


178  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

relation  to  the  origin  of  this  massacre,  but  this  is  the  first, 
so  far  as  I  know,  that  gives  the  true  history.  If  those 
roughs  had  behaved  themselves,  the  Indians  would  have 
retired,  and  this  sad  affair  would  never  have  taken  place. 

As  my  quarterly  meeting  was  at  hand,  having  to  pass 
through  Southland,  and  up  the  Maple  valley  to  Ida  Grove, 
on  their  trail,  I  never  before  witnessed  such  a  state  of 
excitement.  The  settlers  had  gathered  into  the  little  towns, 
selected  the  strongest  house  for  a  fort,  then  fortified  to  the 
best  of  their  ability — the  males  on  guard  without,  and  the 
women  and  children  within. 

A  Mr.  B.,  on  his  way  to  town  with  many  others,  boasted 
what  great  feats  he  would  accomplish  in  case  of  an  attack. 
The  party  concluded  to  test  his  heroism  by  a  little  ma- 
noeuvre. They  planned  for  one  to  pass  through  the  brush 
ahead,  and  wait  until  the  company  came  up;  then  the  war- 
whoop  was  to  be  sounded.  The  plan  was  executed,  and  the 
yelp  given  at  the  proper  time,  when  lo!  he  dropped  his 
coat,  which  he  had  been  carrying  on  his  arm,  his  hat  flew 
off,  and  such  speed  as  he  made  the  famed  Dexter  hardly 
could  have  excelled.  He  never  looked  back  to  count  the 
slain,  but  concluded  that  for  hiir,  the  only  safety  was  in 
flight.  When  the  harbor  was  reached,  they  handed  him  his 
lost  apparel  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safe  arrival.  And 
thus  ended  his  Indian  campaign.  On  ray  return  from  Deni- 
son  homeward,  riding  on  horseback,  I  made  a  very  narrow 
escape.  The  road  was  along  a  willrw  creek,  which  before 
me  I  could  see  some  distance.  Directly  ahead  of  me,  about 
thirty  rods,  in  a  little  opening  of  the  willows.  I  saw  my 
enemy  sure  enough.  The  main  road  would  have  taken  me 
within  eight  rods  of  the  place  of  concealment.  "  What 
shall  I  do?"  My  thoughts  ran  fast.  Fortunate  for  me, 
before  I  reached  them,  the  road  made  an  inward  curve 
behind  a  little  bluff  out  of  their  sight,  and  at  the  center  of 
the  curve,  a  ravine  ran  up  to  the  left,  which  would  take  me 
into  the  main  road,  a  distance  of  about  a  mile.  You  may 


INDIAN     CHARACTER BRIGHT     SPOTS.         179 

rest  assured  that  I  improved  my  advantage,  and  Fanny 
went  up  that  ravine  with  the  speed  of  Mr.  B.  Within  a 
few  minutes  I  was  safe  in  the  main  road  and  out  of  the 
reach  of  danger,  and  thanked  God  for  the  rescue.  Never 
since  then  have  I  doubted  divine  interposition  in  discov- 
ering those  Indians.  At  the  time,  I  was  thinking  about 
something  else,  when  one  appeared  in  that  vacancy  so 
plainly  that  not  a  place  for  a  doubt  remained.  This  narrow 
escape  from  death,  I  did  not  at  the  time  reveal  to  my  own 
friends,  lest  it  might  increase  the  excitement,  or  be  attrib- 
uted to  a  freak  of  the  imagination,  arising  from  the  alarm- 
ing state  of  things  then  existing.  And  right  here  I  wish  to 
present  a  few  thoughts  in  relation  to  Indian  character. 
And  inasmuch  as  I  am  neither  a  hater,  nor  an  admirer,  what  I 
write  may  be  regarded  as  the  honest  convictions  of  my  heart. 
I  have  no  apologies  to  make  for  their  code  of  justice,  killing 
the  innocent  instead  of  the  guilty;  I  have  but  little  confi- 
dence in  their  honesty  or  innocence  where  occasions  offer 
to  test  them;  and  their  cruelty  to  prisoners  is  inexcusable. 
Yea,  I  believe  them  to  be  treacherous  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  except  in  solitary  instances;  and  yet  I  am  fully  satis- 
fied that  their  association  with  the  whites,  copying  their 
vices,  purchasing  their  liquor,  and  swindled  by  their  decep- 
tion, has  had  much  to  do  in  giving  a  still  darker  shade  to 
their  degradation;  and  as  they  hold  sacred  the  law  of 
revenge,  is  it  a  great  wonder,  after  being  so  often  de- 
ceived and  imposed  upon  through  government  officials, 
that  they  are  brought  to  despise  government,  and  take  mat- 
ters into  their  own  hands!  They  are  a  down-trodden  and 
degraded  race,  of  but  little  value  in  the  world's  history,  and 
our  business  as  a  Christian  nation  is,  not  to  make  them 
worse,  but  to  do  all  within  our  power  to  lift  them  up 
to  a  higher  plane;  and  this  can  be  done  only  in  the  exercise 
of  justice,  mercy,  and  truth. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year  quite  a  number  of  min- 
isters from  the  East  visited  our  young  city  with  a  view  of 


180  THE     BATTLE     FIELD    REVIEWED. 

investing  a  little  in  land  for  future  use.  Among  these 
were  Rev.  Mr.  Lownsberry  and  Professor  Loomas.  The 
fine  opportunity,  at  this  date,  for  purchasing  land  at  govern- 
ment prices,  brought  in  many  ministers  from  the  older 
states,  by  whom  we  are  now  well  represented.  Sioux  City 
was  then  a  small  town  of  but  a  few  hundred  inhabitants, 
but  it  has  grown  rapidly,  and  now  numbers  some  eight  or 
ten  thousand,  besides  being  a  place  of  commercial  import- 
ance. Built  on  the  Missouri  river,  a  kind  of  railroad  center, 
and  distant  one  hundred  miles  from  any  competing  city, 
with  such  an  immense  valley  and  fertile  country  to  sustain 
it,  it  must  eventually  become  one  of  the  great  leading 
marts  of  the  West.  Perhaps  there  is  no  better  representa- 
tion of  intelligence  and  enterprise  than  here.  Of  one  hun- 
dred persons  attending  church  in  that  early  period,  nearly 
all  classes  of  professional  men  were  present,  and  a  fair  pro- 
portion were  graduates  from  some  institution  of  learning. 
To  me  it  was  a  great  pleasure  to  preach  the  gospel  to  such 
a  class  of  men  and  women,  for  I  felt  assured  that  if  I  pre- 
sented anything  deserving  commendation  it  would  be  appre- 
ciated. From  this  statement  you  will  discover  that  though 
cultivating  new  soil,  and  enduring  hardships  and  priva- 
tions, we  had  some  bright  spots  along  the  way,  and  one  of 
these  was  my  home  at  Brother  and  Sister  Yeomans',  where 
I  always  found  a  "  light  in  the  window  for  me."  Upon 
the  return  of  summer,  our  table  supplies  were  more  plenti- 
ful, and  once  more  we  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  milk  and 
butter — the  latter  at  fifty  cents  a  pound,  and  thankful  to 
secure  it  at  that  price.  Having  made  my  arrangements  to 
return  to  this  work  the  second  year,  I  made  ample  provision 
for  my  team,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  August  I  started, 
in  company  with  Brother  Havens,  to  Marion,  Linn  county, 
the  seat  of  our  next  annual  conference.  Near  Toledo  we 
attended  a  very  pleasant  camp-meeting  on  the  way,  at 
which  we  spent  the  Sabbath,  and  here  greeted  many  of  our 
old  ministerial  friends.  As  a  long  dreary  winter  makes  a 


PIONEER     HISTORY BISHOP     AMES.  181 

delightful  spring  by  the  law  of  contrast,  so  my  pioneer 
experience  gave  an  unusual  interest  to  our  annual  meeting, 
making  friendships  more  dear  and  religious  privileges  more 
precious.  What  truth  and  beauty  I  now  saw  in  this  senti- 
ment: 

"Society,  friendship  and  love, 
Divinely  bestowed  upon  man." 


CHAPTER    XXVIT. 

Bishop  Ames  is  again  with  us  at  Marion,  and  the  breth- 
ren at  their  posts.  Rev.  Elias  Skinner  was  elected  secretary, 
and  we  were  favored  with  a  very  pleasant  session.  As  I 
had  no  competitors  for  the  office  of  presiding  elder  at  Sioux 
City,  I  was  returned  without  opposition.  On  my  way  back 
to  my  appointment  I  had  the  pleasure  of  the  bishop's  com- 
pany to  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  nearly  one  hundred  miles. 
He  had  to  meet  the  conference  at  this  place,  and  I 
proffered  to  take  him  through  in  my  buggy.  I  found 
him  one  of  the  most  genial  and  cheerful  traveling  compan- 
ions that  I  had  met,  and  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  had 
the  honor  of  being  raised  above  a  bishop.  And  this  result 
was  reached  without  any  effort  on  my  part  or  any  opposi- 
tion from  him.  It  was  in  thiswise.  His  weight  was  about 
two  hundred  and  thirty  pounds,  and  mine  one  hundred  and 
sixty;  so  when  the  springs  of  the  seat  on  his  side  went 
down,  mine  went  up,  and  thus  in  altitude  I  was  constantly 
his  superior. 

Passing  along  the  prairie  the  first  day — full  of  life— said 
he:  "  Brother  Taylor,  as  you  have  a  new  buggy,  why  don't 
you  get  a  fancy  horse?"  I  answered,  "  I  will  tell  you  after 
a  little  while."  Within  two  or  three  hours  we  came  to  one 
of  those  terrible  sloughs,  near  Marengo,  which  required  all 
the  skill  and  strength  of  my  animal  to  take  us  through;  but 
Fanny  came  out  victorious  on  dry  land.  "  1  now  know," 
said  the  bishop,  "  why  you  do  not  want  a  fancy  animal;  you 


1 82  THE     BATTLE     F  T  E  L  D     REVIEWED. 

do  not  wish  to  be  left  in  the  mud."  Between  Marengo 
and  Newton  we  stopped  at  a  hotel  for  dinner,  and  sat  down 
to  the  table  with  about  twenty  boarders.  As  they  began 
to  ply  their  knives  and  forks,  Bishop  Ames  called  a  halt, 
and  said  to  the  landlord:  "  If  you  please,  we  will  ask  God's 
blessing  upon  this  food;"  which  being  done,  they  resumed 
action,  but  kept  an  eye  of  interest  upon  the  stranger,  won- 
dering who  and  what  he  could  be.  Having  finished  his 
meal,  as  he  retired  into  the  sitting-room  the  landlord  came 
to  me  and  with  intense  interest  inquired,  "  Who  is  this 
man  that  asked  that  blessing?"  Said  I,  "  That  is  Bishop 
Ames,  of  the  M.  E.  church."  "  Bishop  Ames!"  said  he. 
"Then  my  table  has  been  honored  with  a  bishop."  Hum-- 
ing to  the  door,  as  some  of  his  boarders  were  leaving,  he 
called  out  to  them:  "  Did  you  know  that  we  had  a  bishop 
at  our  table?"  And  thus,  until  we  started,  he  was  com- 
municating the  good  news  to  every  one  he  met.  It  seemed 
one  of  the  grandest  events  of  his  life;  and  I  doubt  not  that 
he  treasured  it  up  as  a  precious  memorial.  From  this  cir- 
cumstance I  found  it  to  be  a  losing  business  to  be  in  the 
company  of  a  man  who  in  office  ranked  so  much  above  me, 
for  all  the  honor  I  received  was  reflected  from  my  superior. 
At  the  close  of  the  third  day  we  landed  at  Des  Moines, 
and  there  being  a  camp-meeting  at  Saylorsville,  a  few  miles 
distant,  I  went  down  to  that  and  spent  the  Sabbath.  Here 
I  found  my  dear  old  friend  Rev.  J.  B.  Hardy,  one  among 
the  first  preachers  of  Iowa  conference,  and  one  of  the  men 
that  can  be  trusted.  He  is  not  only  a  good  preacher,  but 
all  his  powers  are  consecrated  to  that  blessed  Saviour  who 
called  him  into  his  service.  He  is  one  of  those  men  who 
need  no  epistle  of  commendation  from  me,  for  he  is  a 
"living  epistle  read  and  known  of  all  men."  I  write  in  the 
present  tense,  as  he  is  still  living  and  laboring  in  his  Mas- 
ter's cause.  Brother  Hardy  being  presiding  elder  of  the 
district,  he  informed  me  that  I  must  preach  on  the  Sabbath 
at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  be  succeeded  by  Dr.  Jocelyn.  By 


J.     B.     HARDY  —  GEO.     B.     JOCELYN.  183 

some  means  neither  of  us  were  highly  favored  in  our  ser- 
mons, and  for  my  own  part  I  felt  somewhat  mortified.  Not 
so  much,  however,  as  a  brother  minister,  who  stopped  in 
his  sermon,  took  to  the  brush,  and  then  went  to  bed,  as  a 
fruit  of  his  failure.  No;  but  I  was  conscious  that  my  effort 
was  anything  but  a  success,  and  every  preacher  knows  what 
that  means.  Monday  morning  came,  when  the  elder  said, 
"At  nine  A.  M.  you  must  preach  again."  And  now  mark  the 
benefits  of  a  failure.  Had  I  made  a  happy  effort  on  Sunday 
morning,  I  should  not  have  felt  my  dependence  upon  God, 
in  that  helpless  sense  as  I  felt  it  now;  but  this  brought  me 
very  low  at  the  Saviour's  feet,  and  before  I  left  the  conse- 
crated spot  in  the  grove,  before  service,  with  my  faith  I 
had  grasped  the  divine  arm,  and  my  motto  furnished  me 
upon  my  knees,  "that  no  enterprise  can  fail  with  God  to 
back  it"  Baptized  with  this  spirit,  I  ascended  the  pulpit 
and  preached  on  the  victory  of  faith.  I  need  not  detail  the 
result.  This  much,  however,  I  can  say,  that  at  one  period 
in  my  discourse  the  weight  of  divine  glory  was  beyond  any 
former  experience^  and  such  a  meeting  after  the  sermon  was 
truly  glorious.  Brother  Hardy  and  many  who  read  this  will 
remember  the  hour  and  appreciate  what  I  have  written. 
Dr.  Jocelyn,  that  blessed  man  who  is  now  in  heaven,  what 
shall  I  say  of  him!  For  years  we  were  members  of  the  same 
conference;  he  was  one  of  my  successors  at  Old  Zion,  in  the 
city  of  Burlington,  and  at  this  time  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church 
in  the  city  of  Des  Moines.  It  was  here,  from  month  to  month, 
that  the  members  of  the  legislature  sat  under  his  ministry, 
edified  and  delighted,  and  room  could  hardly  be  found  for  the 
crowds  that  attended.  No  minister  of  the  gospel  ever  left 
our  state  with  a  better  record  than  George  B.  Jocelyn,  and 
the  Michigan  conference  seldom  if  ever  received  a  more 
valuable  accession.  The  Albion  college,  of  which  he  was 
so  long  president,  was  very  much  blessed  and  prospered 
under  his  faithful  labors,  and  his  name  like  sweet  perfume 
will  go  down  to  oth^r  generations. 


184        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

After  a  delightful  season  of  enjoyment  at  this  meeting, 
I  started  onward,  and  within  three  days  I  was  welcomed  to 
my  old  home  at  Sioux  City  and  Sergeant's  Bluff.  Rev.  C.  J. 
Campbell  was  now  stationed  at  Sac  City,  and  Wm.  Black  at 
Denison  and  Carroll.  After  the  arrival  of,  the  former,  we 
held  his  first  quarterly  meeting,  which  was  protracted 
through  another  week.  Here  the  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit 
upon  this  place,  which  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  about 
twenty  persons.  One  good  feature  of  this  revival,  it  was 
married  to  a  temperance  society;  and  as  a  result,  they  were 
like  David  and  Jonathan,  loving  and  assisting  each  other. 
There  is  no  use  in  tampering.  Whisky  and  grace  are  in- 
compatible, and  the  only  way  of  success  in  religious  socie- 
ties is  to  deal  with  it  as  Putnam  did  with  the  wolf — take  it 
square  between  the  eyes,  and  then  see  to  it  that  there  is  no 
danger  of  its  restoration  to  life.  Before  I  left  this  meeting 
to  return  home,  Brother  Campbell  complained  of  a  pain  in 
his  toe,  and  on  examining  it,  there  was  a  red,  round  spot  on 
the  fleshy  part  of  it  about  the  size  of  a  five-cent  piece. 
Realizing  nothing  serious,  I  started  for  home,  one  hundred 
miles  distant,  and  when  I  heard  from  him  again  he  was  in 
his  grave.  He  tried  to  send  me  word,  but  failed.  It  was  a 
case  of  the  erysipelas;  continuing  to  spread,  its  progress 
could  not  be  arrested,  until  physicians  decided  that  the  limb 
must  be  amputated  above  the  part  inflamed.  He  finally 
consented,  but  the  shock  was  too  great.  In  the  reaction  he 
expired,  but  died  like  a  Christian.  His  remains  are  now 
slumbering  in  the  grave-yard  at  Sac  City,  reminding  us  of 
the  spirit  of  heroism  which  led  him  into  distant  lands  to 
labor  and  die  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Among  the  number  converted  during  this  revival  was  a 
young  man  of  promise,  the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Austin,  one  of 
the  oldest  citizens  of  the  place,  whom  we  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher;  but  in  less  than  one  year  he  was  sleeping  by  the 
side  of  Brother  Campbell.  Failing  to  secure  a  supply  for 
Smithland  and  Sac  City,  left  vacant  by  the  death  of  its  min- 


PORTRESS     OF     ELK-HORNS.  185 

ister,  I  saw  no  other  way  but  to  turn  the  .whole  district  into 
a  circuit,  and  go  round  it  once  in  four  weeks.  In  doing 
this,  as  there  was  Brother  Black  and  myself,  they  would 
have  preaching  every  two  weeks.  The  brethren  at  Sioux 
City  and  Sergeant's  Bluff  consenting,  we  started  out  upon 
this  new  arrangement  early  in  the  spring,  the  distance 
around  the  work  being  about  three  hundred  miles.  This 
being  one  of  the  wet  seasons,  the  traveling  was  perilous. 
For  miles  together  it  was  wade  through  mud  and  water, 
through  sloughs,  and  rapid  streams,  endangering  our  own 
lives  as  well  as  those  of  our  faithful  animals;  but  not  an  ap- 
pointment did  we  miss,  except  Carroll,  where  the  crossing 
was  such  that  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  reach.  In  some 
instances  we  came  up  to  those  deep  creeks  on  the  prairie, 
full  to  the  banks,  and  now  our  only  course  was  to  take  a 
hatchet,  lop  down  the  willows  standing  upon  the  bank,  pile 
old  broken  rails  upon  these,  with  weeds  and  grass  and  drift- 
wood, layer  upon  layer,  until  the  resistance  was  such  as  to 
bear  up  a  horse,  and  then  pass  over.  One  of  our  prairies 
between  Ida  Grove  and  Sac  City  was  forty  miles  across, 
without  a  house  or  a  particle  of  water,  which  was  an  excep- 
tion in  our  round.  The  only  company  to  enjoy  along  this 
lonely  way  was  now  and  then  a  little  prairie  bird  flying  up 
before  my  horse,  or  some  hungry  wolf  following  upon  my 
track. 

In  going  from  Ida  Grove  to  Denison,  which  was  about 
thirty  miles  distant,  I  witnessed  one  of  the  most  interesting 
sights  of  my  life.  In  ascending  a  little  bluff,  as  I  reached 
the  top,  before  me  stood  one  hundred  elk  of  various  sizes. 
As  I  approached,  they  crossed  the  road  a  little  before  me, 
then  formed  a  ring — the  mothers  with  their  fawns  within; 
the  males,  with  their  great  horns,  completing  the  circle 
without.  There  they  stood  in  this  fortified  position  until  I 
was  out  of  sight.  This  was  the  grandest  array  of  horned 
battalion  that  I  ever  witnessed,  and  was  worth  a  journey  of 
one  hundred  miles  to  see.  I  stopped  my  animal  for  some 


186  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

time  to  look  into  this  living  fortress,  but  they  faced  me  with 
a  look  of  defiance,  as  much  as  to  say:  "  Come  this  way  if  you 
dare."  At  Denison,  among  other  good  brethren,  I  must 
mention  the  name  of  Morris  McHenry,  who  at  this  time  was 
county  surveyor,  and  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church.  He 
was  one  of  the  men  who  would  be  an  ornament  to  society 
in  any  place,  in  "  the  city  full  or  on  the  desert  waste."  It 
was  a  pleasure  to  me  to  see  these  newly-organized  socie- 
ties of  the  previous  year  now  taking  shape  and  becoming 
centers  of  a  strong  and  prosperous  church.  During  the 
summer  at  Sac  City  I  baptized  about  twenty  persons  by 
immersion,  at  the  same  service;  and  here  again  I  realized 
the  value  of  my  method  referred  to  in  a  previous  chapter. 
These  were  some  of  the  fruits  of  the  revival  during  the 
winter.  In  passing  round  our  work,  in  going  and  returning, 
we  had  to  pass  through  Ida  Grove,  the  county-seat  of  Ida 
county,  where  I  always  received  a  hearty  welcome  from  Mr. 
Morehead,  the  first  settler,  and  principal  man  of  the  place. 
Mr.  Morehead  came  to  this  place  in  1856,  one  year  pre- 
vious to  the  organization  of  the  county,  and  twice  he  was 
compelled  to  leave  on  account  of  the  Indians.  For  many 
years  settlement  was  very  much  retarded  by  the  large  grant 
made  to  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  railroad  company, 
both  of  which  causes  prevented  its  growth;  and  it  was  not 
till  about  1870  that  emigration  commenced  in  good  earnest. 
In  1871  he  laid  out  the  village  of  Ida,  which  at  this  date 
(1881)  contains  about  eight  hundred  inhabitants,  and  he  made 
during  the  last  year  over  $50,000  worth  of  improvements. 
The  present  population  of  the  county  is  over  4,000,  of  a 
respectable  and  wealthy  class,  and  strongly  republican.  In 
1877  the  Maple  River  branch  of  the  Chicago  and  North- 
western railroad  was  completed  to  this  point,  since  which 
time  settlement  has  been  very  rapid,  there  having  been  sold 
last  year  over  100,000  acres  to  actual  settlers.  Mr.  More- 
head  at  this  time  is  the  owner  of  3,000  acres  in  the  county, 
one-third  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  This  interesting 


SETTLEMENT     WITH     A     MINISTER.  187 

scrap  of  history  is  from  my  old  friend  (through  his  son),  and 
goes  to  show  what  time,  patience,  and  perseverance  will 
accomplish  within  a  few  years.  At  that  time  there  were 
but  a  few  families  and  no  church  organization,  but  he  had 
been  raised  a  Methodist,  and  was  what  might  be  called  a 
pretty  good  orthodox  sinner.  I  always  enjoyed  putting  up 
with  him  and  his  kind  family,  and  he  was  as  well  satisfied 
as  myself.  My  bill  of  fare  was  always  adjusted  by  his 
generosity,  without  reckoning  up  my  debt  or  credit.  My 
successor,  however,  did  not  fare  so  well. 

When  leaving  the  circuit,  he  inquired  of  Mr.  M.  "how 
much  he  was  in  debt."  The  answer  was  that  he  could  not 
tell  without  looking  over  the  account.  So  here  the  settle- 
ment commenced. 

REV. ,  DR. 

To  so  many  night's  lodging  and  meals,        .        $20  00 
Horse-feed  in  addition,      .  .  .  10  00 


Total  indebtedness,      .  $30  00 

At  this  point  my  ministerial  brother  began  to  feel  a  little 
streaked,  and  entertained  some  doubts  whether  after  this 
bill  was  paid  he  would  have  enough  left  to  pay  his  way  to 
conference;  and  as  he  was  about  to  adjust  his  pocket-book 
in  order  to  square  the  account:  "See  here,"  said  Mr.  M.; 
"your  credits  are  to  come  in  before  we  strike  the  balance." 
"  Credits!"  said  the  preacher;  "  I  have  no  credits  to  offset 
that  indebtedness!"  "  Yes,  you  have,"  said  my  friend;  and 

here  they  are: 

CR. 

By  so  many  sermons  preached,  .      $10  00 

By  so  many  prayers  in  the  family,  .          .     15  00 

By  so  many  blessings  at  table,      .  .          5  00 

By  one  prayer,  offered  upon  one  knee,      .         .          25 

Total, $30  25 

So,  you  see,  after  this  supposed  money  peril,  my  brother 
came  out  twenty-five  centsahead,  which  only  gave  elasticity 


188  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  AV  E  D  . 

to  the  joke.  So  far  as  the  sermons  are  concerned  in  the 
items  of  credit,  I  am  not  so  positive,  hut  the  facts  are  the 
same;  and  inasmuch  as  I  received  it  from  the  preacher  him- 
self, I  presume  that  it  is  true  to  history.  Little  thought  my 
old  friend,  that  some- future  scribe  would  record  this  amus- 
ing incident;  but  here  it  is,  a  part  of  the  early  history  of 
Ida  Grove.  Mr.  Morehead  is  still  living,  and  when  he  reads 
this  he  will  be  twice  blessed. 

There  was  a  young  man  of  sandy  hair  and  light  com- 
plexion teaching  school  at  Sioux  City  during  the  present 
year,  with  whom  I  formed  a  very  pleasant  acquaintance, 
who  has  since  become  well-known  throughout  the  state  of 
Iowa.  I  was  well  aware  at  that  time  that  he  possessed  the 
elements  that  would  eventually  bring  him  into  public 
notice,  and  his  subsequent  history  has  proved  that  I  was 
not  mistaken.  For  many  years  he  has  been  general  agent 
of  one  of  the  most  responsible  life  insurance  companies  of 
the  West,  and  perhaps  no  man  has  met  with  greater  suc- 
cess. Not  only  does  he  possess  great  financial  ability,  but 
above  all,  he  maintains  the  character  of  a  Christian.  He  is 
a  prominent  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  he  and  his 
excellent  wife  reside  in  the  city  of  Davenport.  That  young 
man  was  I.  T.  Martin.  I  must  also  include  among  my  pleas- 
ant acquaintances  during  the  year,  Ezra  and  Joseph  Millard, 
now  wealthy  bankers  in  Omaha,  Nebraska.  They  were  at 
that  date  just  starting  out  in  business  life,  and  being  young 
men  of  principle  and  good  character,  they  have  pushed 
their  way  up  to  wealth  and  affluence.  'Among  the  sad 
events  to  record  about  this  time  was  the  death  of  Brother 
Brindell,  recently  from  Philadelphia,  and  an  own  brother 
to  Rev.  G.  W.  Brindell  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference.  He 
had  been  recently  married,  and  moved  out  west,  near  Sioux 
City;  when  in  the  act  of  cleaning  out  a  well,  he  inhaled  the 
poison,  and  at  once  expired.  As  he  wits  much  respected, 
the  loss  was  deeply  felt.  His  widow  returned  to  Clinton, 
where  she  had  been  raised.  It  was  here  also  that  I  first 


RARE     FUNERAL     OCCASION.  189 

formed  the  acquaintance  of  Rev.  Cornelius  F.  McLean,  who 
has  been  long  a  member  of  our  conference.  He  had  taken 
up  a  claim  in  Nebraska,  opposite  Sioux  City;  had  built  a 
cabin,  and  was  meeting  the  demands  of  the  law.  At  his 
request  I  went  over  to  Dakota,  a  little  town  across -the 
river,  and  preached,  I  think,  the  first  sermon  in  the  village. 
Subject:  "Heaven's  estimate  of  one  repenting  sinner."  I 
had  great  liberty,  but  whether  there  was  joy  in  heaven  on 
that  day  because  of  repenting  sinners,  is  not  yet  revealed. 
But  I  went  from  the  pulpit  to  my  home  happy  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  the  soul's  reward.  As  soon  as  Brother 
McLean  could  make  his  arrangements  he  entered  upon 
the  work,  and  now  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  publish- 
ing the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  fully  consecrated  to  God. 
Our  young  city  at  this  time,  like  the  most  of  pioneer 
towns,  had  its  drawbacks,  including  saloons  and  gambling 
rooms,  where  many  a  soul  was  ruined  and  families  dis- 
graced. On  one  occasion  I  was  called  upon  to  hold  religious 
services  over  the  body  of  a  man  who  had  died  with  the 
delirium  tremens.  As  they  had  no  other  place,  I  stood  up 
among  the  barrels  of  liquor.  I  referred,  in  my  remarks,  to 
the  probabilities  that  this  man  was  of  respectable  parent- 
age, that  he  had  grown  up  under  the  influence  of  religious 
training,  had  come  out  West  to  seek  a  home  and  fortune, 
followed  by  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of  an  interested 
mother  that  her  dear  boy  might  be  honored  and  prospered 
in  a  land  of  strangers.  And  he  himself  as  he  left  home 
was  ardent  with  hope  and  solicitude  that  his  way  would  be 
prospered.  But  he  fell  in  with  bad  company,  contracted 
bad  habits,  became  a  gambler  and  a  drunkard,  and  here 
his  earthly  history  ends  in  a  liquor-shop,  with  no  mourners 
present  but  his  companions  in  crime!  Whilst  I  am  attend- 
ing the  last  services  of  this  young  man  in  this  saloon,  in 
the  presence  of  these  monuments  of  ruin,  interested 
friends  may  be  praying  and  hoping  that  health  and  pros- 
perity attend  him.  Then  came  in  the  appeal — that  the  same 


190  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

company  and  habits  that  had  brought  this  man  to  his 
untimely  end  would  result  in  their  ruin  also,  and  that  their 
only  safety  was  in  a  life  of  virtue  and  temperance.  During 
these  remarks  they  wept  like  children;  but  speak  not  of 
reform  in  a  business  which  bears  the  inscription  of  disgrace 
and  death. 

The  summer  of  1858  was  an  exception,  in  that  the  rainy 
season  continued  until  the  last  of  August,  up  to  the  very 
time  when  we  had  to  start  to  our  annual  conference,  which 
caused  us  much  inconvenience.  The  creeks  and  rivers  were 
bankfull  and  overflowing,  and  had  I  not  been  a  practical 
swimmer,  our  trip  through  the  state  would  have  been  a 
failure.  Having  finished  the  last  round,  we  bade  farewell 
to  the  friends  at  Sioux  City  and  Sergeant's  Bluff  and  started 
on  our  way.  I  had  arranged  to  hold  our  last  quarterly 
meeting  at  the  different  appointments,  the  first  being  at 
Smithland,  thirty  miles  distant.  Having  closed  up  the 
labors  of  Saturday  and  Sabbath,  without  any  marked 
results,  on  Monday  morning  we  intended  to  start  for  our 
new  appointment.  But  before  starting,  a  delegation  was 
sent,  among  whom  were  some  of  the  unconverted,  beseech- 
ing us  to  stay  another  day,  as  there  were  a  large  number  of 
persons  seeking  the  Lord.  Such  a  motive  I  could  not 
resist,  and  so  appointed  a  meeting  for  Monday  evening. 
Surely  enough,  ten  or  twelve  seekers  came  forward,  pro- 
fessed conversion,  and  united  with  the  church,  who  subse- 
quently became  faithful  members.  Passing  on  to  Sac  City, 
we  had  a  meeting  of  unusual  interest.  Those  who  were 
converted  and  baptized  were  to  be  taken  into  full  connec- 
tion. During  this  service,  in  giving  them  the  right-hand  of 
fellowship,  and  requesting  others  to  do  so,  a  wonderful 
spiritual  manifestation  attended,  which  filled  every  belie v- 
injj  heart  with  joy  and  rejoicing.  This  was  our  last  service 
on  the  district;  twenty  or  thirty  had  been  recently  con- 
verted, and  it  was  nreet  that  our  last  meeting  should  be  a 
pentecostal  feast.  At  its  close,  I  opened  the  doors  of  the 


HOW     WE     MANAGED.  191 

church,  when  six  of  the  principal   men  of  the   place  came 
forward,  who  afterward  became  pillars  in  the  church. 

Our  labors  have  now  closed  on  this  district.  Monday 
morning  arrives,  arid  a  large  number  of  Christian  friends 
accompany  us  to  the  river,  our  place  of  crossing.  Swim- 
ming our  horses  over  the  stream,  we  crossed  in  a  small  boat, 
and  having  hitched  our  horses  to  our  buggies  and  waved  to 
our  friends,  still  standing  on  the  river  bank,  the  last  fare- 
well, we  started  for  Lyons,  the  seat  of  our  coming  confer- 
ence. When  almost  out  of  sight,  I  cast  a  look  backward, 
and  "still  the  friends  were  standing,  waving  a  distant  adieu. 
Such  tokens  of  friendship  and  affection  were  heart-cheer- 
ing after  encountering  the  labors,  hardships,  and  perils  of 
the  last  two  years,  and  it  reminded  me  of  the  waving  flag 
of  welcome  that  they  might  be  permitted  to  hang  out  as  a 
signal  when  approaching  the  heavenly  shores.  There  is  no 
small  event  in  the  history  of  rny  ministerial  labors  that  has 
left  a  more  tender  and  touching  impression  than  the  last 
greeting  of  those  Sac  City  friends;  and  as  the  husband 
and  father  can  endure  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the 
soldier  when  inspired  by  the  love  of  liberty  and  home, 
so  I  felt  that  these  memorials  of  true  affection  served 
to  inspire  me  with  still  greater  heroism  in  the  cause 
of  Him  who  died  for  us.  And  not  many  hours  passed 
before  the  occasion  was  furnished  in  a  very  practical  form. 
We  came  to  a  large  stream,  widening  out  ten  or  twelve  rods, 
and  now  what  is  to  be  done?  Brother  Black,  my  traveling 
companion,  cannot  swim,  the  water  is  too  deep  to  ford,  some 
of  our  articles  must  not  be  wet,  and  now  I  will  test  its 
depth  by  wading  through.  Carrying  our  blankets  in  my 
hands,  extended  upwards,  I  started  for  the  other  shore,  and 
found  that  I  could  just  go  through,  the  water  coming  over 
my  shoulders.  Safely  landed,  I  deposited  my  load  on  the 
bank  and  then  swam  back  after  the  second.  Thus  I  con- 
tinued wading  and  swimming  alternately,  until  all  were  over 
excepting  Brother  Black  and  the  buggy.  Well,  what  dis- 


192  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

position  is  to  be  made  of  them?  Fortunate  for  us,  we  have 
a  rope  on  hand,  and  so  I  fasten  this  to  the  shafts  of  my 
buggy,  lash  the  preacher  fast  to  the  rear,  and  Fanny  brings 
all  in  safety  over  to  the  opposite  side.  It  was  quite  amus- 
ing to  see  a  very  short  man  rolling  and  whirling  in  the 
stream,  but  this  was  the  only  hope — too  short  to  wade,  and 
unable  to  swim,  his  only  hope  was  that  of  the  rope;  and  to 
this  he  adhered  like  a  faithful  friend.  So  that  beyond  the 
floods,  standing  on  the  shore  of  safety,  in  his  song  of  grati- 
tude, like  Miriam  he  could  sing:  "The  horse  and  his  rider 
hath  he  thrown  inco  the  sea,  but  out  of  all  the  rope* hath 
delivered  me" 

When  I  describe  the  method  of  crossing  in  one  instance, 
it  embraces  our  entire  water  experience,  except  in  cases 
where  the  streams  were  too  deep  to  wade;  then  I  had  to 
swim  over  in  the  advance,  then  my  animal  came,  afterward 
my  traveling  companion  and  appendages.  Thus  we  perse- 
vered onward  until  we  came  to  a  long  layer  of  floating  logs, 
lifted  up  by  the  high  water,  and  over  these  we  rolled  and 
splashed  until  at  last,  the  second  afternoon,  we  reached  the 
dividing  ridge.  If  two  men  were  ever  glad  and  grateful 
for  dangers  passed,  and  victories  won,  we  were,  when  our 
horses'  feet  stood  firmly  on  "  terra  firma."  And  now,  what 
an  appropriate  time  for  a  short  review.  Two  years  had 
passed  by  since  I  entered  upon  this  work;  and  though  I 
had  encountered  hardships,  braved  dangers,  and  suffered 
the  loss  of  many  social  pleasures,  yet  I  had  been  honored 
with  the  privilege  of  preaching  the  gospel  where  its  joyful 
sound  had  never  been  heard,  organizing  new  societies,  es- 
tablishing new  Sunday-schools,  witnessing  the  conversion 
of  many  souls,  and  laying  the  foundation  for  the  future 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  church  of  Christ.  At  this 
point  I  can  furnish  nothing  more  interesting  or  appropriate 
than  a  short  extract  from  a  letter  just  received  from  Dr.  S. 
P.  Yeomans,  now  residing  in  Charles  City,  but  then  the 
register  of  the  land  office  at  Sioux  City.  He  says: 


TESTIMONY     OF     DR.     Y  E  O  M  A  N  S  .  193 

"  It  is  generally  thought  that,  to  find  the  heroic  in  Meth- 
odism, we  must  go  back  to  the  early  days  of  our  church  his- 
tory; but  when  I  call  to  mind  (as  I  often  do)  your  trials  and 
privations  as  you  buffeted  the  terrible  winter  storms  of 
twenty-five  years  ago  upon  the  Sioux  City  work,  laboring 
with  your  own  hands  for  the  support  which  the  scattered 
membership  was  unable  to  afford,  I  am  firm  in  the  convic- 
tion that  your  faith,  zeal  and  endurance  in  the  Master's 
work  were  hardly  surpassed  by  the  old  pioneers  of  Method- 
ism. As  we  now  look  over  the  field,  we  are  enabled  to  see 
clearly  that  your  labor  was  not  in  vain.  The  seed  that  you 
scattered  in  that  virgin  soil  has  taken  root  and  already 
yielded  an  abundant  harvest.  The  apparently  barren  field 
which  you  then  traversed  has  now  become  a  mighty  center 
of  Methodism,  whose  influence  is  felt  through  all  North- 
western Iowa  and  the  territory  beyond;  another  evidence 
of  the  verity  of  that  grand  old  promise,  '  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
always?  v 

I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  add  to  this  page  the  testimony 
of  such  an  able  writer  as  Dr.  S.  P.  Yeomans.  In  leaving 
this  work  my  report  to  conference  is  as  follows:  Members, 
141;  probationers,  36;  baptisms,  24;  churches,  1;  Sunday- 
schools,  6;  scholars,  158;  preaching  places,  10.  The  re- 
mainder of  our  trip  through  the  state  was  very  pleasant, 
and  rendered  the  more  so  by  the  pleasant  Sabbath  spent  at 
Marshalltown,  with  Brother  Henderson.  On  this  day  I 
preached  from  "Never  man  spake  like  this  man,"  and 
Brother  Black  gave  us  a  sermon  in  the  evening.  The  fol- 
lowing Thursday  we  reached  Honey  Creek  camp-meeting, 
near  Marengo,  and  here  I  again  met  my  old  friend  and 
former  colleague,  Rev.  Wra.  Simpson,  now  presiding  elder 
of  Oskaloosa  district.  I  need  not  say  that  there  was  mutual 
joy,  and  this  was  one  of  the  happy  events  of  my  life.  This 
was  my  last  season  of  personal  enjoyment  with  the  elder 
on  earth,  and  the  next  will  be  in  heaven.  On  our  way  to 
Lyons,  from  this  place,  again  we  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a 
14 


l'J4  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

short  visit  at  Hon.  Hiram  Price's,  at  Davenport,  and  preach 
for  them  on  the  Sabbath.  Rev.  Linderman,  at  this  date, 
was  pastor  of  that  society.  On  the  following  Tuesday 
we  all  met  at  Lyons,  and  thus  closes  up  the  history  of 
Sioux  City. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

"  And  are  we  yet  alive,  and  see  each  other's  face ! 
Glory  and  praise  to  Jesus  give,  for  his  redeeming  grace. 
What  troubles  have  we  seen,  what  conflicts  have  we  passed! 
Fightings  without,  and  fears  within,  since  we  assembled  last. 
But  out  of  all  the  Lord  hath  brought  us  by  his  love, 
And  still  he  doth  his  help  afford,  and  Jiides  our  life  above.'1'' 

What  a  history  has  been  made  by  these  one  hundred  and 
sixty  Methodist  ministers  during  the  last  twelve  months! 
Here  they  all  are,  to  report  past  progress,  and  to  gather  new 
strength  for  additional  conquests.  Some  have  passed  through 
sore  trials,  some  have  had  to  live  on  small  rations,  and  yet 
others  inscribe:  "  The  lines  have  fallen  unto  me  in  veryp/eas- 
ant  places"  But  in  this  diversified  history,  our  grand  end 
and  aim  has  been  to  win  souls  for  Christ.  For  this,  every 
book  has  been  studied,  every  prayer  has  been  offered,  every 
sermon  has  been  preached,  and  the  results  recorded  above. 
Bishop  Morris  is  again  with  us,  but  now  shows  the  marks  of 
time.  During  this  session,  I  used  every  effort  in  order  to 
supply  my  former  work  with  good  men;  and  in  this  I  was 
successful,  having  secured  the  consent  of  Rev.  George  Clif- 
ford for  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  I.  K.  Fuller  for  Sioux  City 
station.  Brothers  B.  C.  Barnes  and  Glassner  were  also  ap- 
pointed to  this  district;  good  and  faithful  men.  The  usual 
business  of  the  conference  finished,  my  appointment  is  read 
out  for  Maquoketa.  Rev.  G.  W.  Brindell  had  been  their 
pastor  the  year  previous,  and  left  the  charge  in  a  good 
spiritual  condition.  Having  labored  here  in  revival  work 


HARD     LABOR RICH     REWARD.  195 

three  years  previous,  I  had  formed  a  very  pleasant  acquaint- 
ance; which  gave  me  a  hearty  reception,  and  I  felt  at  once 
at  home.  My  congregations  were  large,  a  nourishing  Sun- 
day-school, an  intelligent  audience,  and  all  alive  to  the  in- 
terests of  religion.  Brother  Brindell  was  recently  from 
Philadelphia,  this  being  his  first  station  in  our  conference. 
He  was  a  good  preacher  and  faithful  worker  in  the  Sabbath- 
school,  and  labored  to  promote  all  the  interests  of  the 
church.  He  remained  with  us  several  years,  a  successful 
pastor,  until  his  father's  ill  health  called  him  again  to  Phila- 
delphia. So  soon  as  he  could  leave  he  returned,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  filled  some  of  the  most  important  positions 
in  our  conference,  and  leaves  the  blessing  of  his  Master  in 
every  charge.  This  year  he  is  stationed  at  Osage,  and  his 
labors  are  attended  with  the  same  gracious  results.  His 
pleasant  companion  contributes  her  share  in  all  the  interests 
of  the  work,  and  often  in  feeble  health,  has  cheerful  words 
for  him  in  every  trying  hour.  Long  may  they  live  to  reflect 
the  lustre  of  a  Christian  example  already  bright,  until  grace 
is  with  glory  crowned. 

The  faithful  pastor,  like  the  skillful  farmer,  commencing 
the  labors  of  the  year,  looks  around  to  see  what  work  is  the 
most  important  to  do  first.  By  this  rule  I  was  governed  as 
I  entered  upon  my  pastoral  relation  in  Maquoketa;  and 
very  soon  I  found  myself  included  among  the  number  ad- 
dressed in  the  language  of  the  poet: 

"\  "  Do  not,  then,  stand  idly  waiting  for  some  greater  work  to  do. 
Fortune  is  a  lazy  goddess;  she  will  never  come  to  you. 
Go  and  toil  in  any  vineyard ;   do  not  fear  to  do  or  dare. 
If  y<m  want  a  field  to  labor,  you  can  find  it  anywhere." 

And  my  charge  was  not  an  exception  to  the  truth  em- 
braced in  this  beautiful  language.  Our  church  had  been 
recently  enlarged  by  an  addition  in  length  of  sixteen  feet, 
but  the  basement  was  unfinished,  without  door,  windows  or 
floor;  cold  weather  would  soon  be  upon  us,  and  the  main 
audience  room  could  not  then  be  made  comfortable.  The 


196  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEAVED. 

brethren  had  been  largely  taxed  in  order  to  finish  the  upper 
part,  and  seemed  reluctant  to  incur  further  expense;  and  so 
the  matter  stood.  But  the  alternative  was  before  us:  the 
basement  must  be  finished  or  religious  services  suspended 
in  very  cold  weather.  After  my  experience  and  discipline 
in  the  Sioux  City  country,  I  did  not  need  any  additional  in- 
spiration, but  felt  the  moving  impulse  of  Brother  A.  at  a 
camp-meeting  which  I  attended  near  Burlington,  when  a 
shower  had  unfitted  the  altar  for  service.  He  cried  out: 
"Straw,  brethren^  more  straw!  twenty  souls  lost  this  morn- 
ing for  want  of  straw!"  It  has  been  supposed  that  this 
exclamation  was  manufactured,  like  many  others  in  our  day, 
but  being  on  the  ground,  I  can  vouch  for  its  truth,  with  the 
name  of  the  person.  This  brother  was  very  impulsive,  and 
could  not  think  of  the  idea  of  salvation's  work  being  re- 
tarded for  the  want  of  a  little  dry  straw.  And  thus,  in  the 
work  of  finishing  up  our  basement,  I  expected  that  salva- 
tion would  be  our  work  during  the  coming  winter,  and  we 
needed  all  the  helps  within  our  power;  and  thus  I  went 
right  to  work,  and  in  a  short  time  the  voice  of  prayer  and 
praise  ascended  from  within  its  finished  walls.  The  breth- 
ren, within  a  short  time,  returned  to  me  all  the  funds  that  I 
had  advanced,  with  their  heartfelt  thanks,  and  we  all  re- 
joiced in  the  consolation.  So  far  as  efficient  help  in  the 
church  was  concerned,  if  ever  I  realized  that  I  had  "a  good 
heritage,"  it  was  here.  Rev.  Lymari  Catlin,  now  a  member 
of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  and  his  excellent  wife, 
Brother  Martin,  our  stirring  Sunday-school  superintendent, 
Brother  Spencer,  our  teacher  of  the  Bible  class,  Brothers 
Poff,  Stevens,  Wright,  Barnes,  Stimpson,  Northup,  Fellows, 
Gephart  and  their  companions,  with  many  others,  a  little 
host,  stood  by  my  side,  ever  ready  to  bear  a  part  in  pushing 
forward  the  good  cause.  My  home  this  year  was  at  Mr. 
Millard's,  whose  wife  was  a  member  of  our  church,  and  who 
spared  no  pains  to  make  it  a  pleasant  one.  These  were  the 


CHEERING  WORK  —  J.  C.  AYRES.       19? 

parents  of  Ezra  and  Joseph  Millard,  so  favorably  mentioned 
in  my  sketch  of  Sioux  City. 

Everything  in  readiness,  we  went  right  to  work,  laboring 
earnestly  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  we  did  not  labor  in 
vain.  The  interest  increased  gradually  from  day  to  day, 
until  we  looked  upon  thirty  persons  at  the  altar  for  prayers 
at  the  same  time.  One  evening  we  had  a  similar  manifesta- 
tion of  divine  power  as  that  witnessed  on  Dubuque  circuit, 
ten  years  previous.  Such  was  the  unity  of  hearts,  and  the 
victory  of  faith,  that  they  were  all  converted  about  the 
same  time.  So  well  assured  was  I  of  this,  that  I  requested 
all  the  seekers  who  had  obtained  a  clear  and  satisfactory 
evidence  of  their  acceptance  with  God  during  the  last 
prayer,  to  rise  to  their  feet,  when  every  one  arose.  It  was 
a  grand  sight,  and  the  divine  glory  in  the  midst  made  it  still 
grander.  Such  victories  of  faith  do  not  often  occur,  and 
never,  until  the  church  rises  to  a  high  spiritual  condition. 
As  is  generally  the  case,  the  blessed  work  commenced  in 
our  Sunday-school  and  embraced  many  of  its  largest  scholars. 
One  evening  of  much  interest,  I  witnessed  one  of  the  most 
interesting  scenes  of  this  kind  within  my  ministerial  experi- 
ence. The  teacher  of  a  Bible  class,  having  sought  and 
found  the  "pearl  of  great  price"  came  to  me,  her  face  all 
aglow  w-ith  holy  joy,  and  asked  me:  "Will  it  be  right  for 
me  to  go  out  into  the  congregation  and  invite  my  scholars 
to  come?"  I  said  to  her  "Go;"  and  one  after  the  other  she 
led  to  the  altar,  until  she  reached  the  seventh,  and  then  she 
knelt  by  their  side  and  prayed  for  their  conversion.  Bless 
the  Lord  for  such  youthful  missionaries!  My  heart  grows 
warm  in  giving  this  interesting  relation.  I  have  read  and 
thought  much  about  "  ministering  angels,"  and  often  have  I 
fancied  that  I  felt  the  brush  of  their  balmy  wings,  but  never 
saw  a  closer  resemblance  of  one  in  human  form  than  that 
dear  girl  of  fourteen  when  leading  her  companions  to  Christ. 
And  then  to  see  them  standing  up  side  by  side,  all  saved 
and  happy,  praising  God  for  redeeming  love,  would  require 


198       THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

. 

an  angel's  pencil  and  angelic  skill  to  furnish  an  appropriate 
picture  for  the  mansions  of  heaven. 

When  the  time  of  our  second  quarterly  meeting  arrived, 
our  presiding  elder,  Rev.  J.  C.  Ayres,  was  with  us,  and 
his  heart  seemed  inspired  with  strength  anew  in  view  of  the 
glorious  work  in  progress.  On  Sunday  evening  his  subject 
was  the  Prodigal  Son,  and  of  all  the  discourses  of  his  to 
which  I  have  listened,  this  was  the  most  convincing  and 
powerful.  Brother  Ayres  came  from  the  Erie  conference  to 
ours  in  its  early  history.  As  an  efficient  laborer  in  his 
younger  days  when  a  member  of  the  Erie  conference,  he 
had  but  few  equals,  if  any  superiors;  and  during  the  many 
years  in  which  he  served  the  church  in  the  state  of  Iowa, 
he  was  the  same  devoted,  able,  and  honored  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ.  No  man  in  our  conference  was  better  ac- 
quainted with  its  doctrines  and  discipline,  and  no  one  better 
qualified  to  defend  them.  He  was  one  of  those  men  that 
needed  no  adjectives  to  portray  his  real  worth,  as  he  embod- 
ied nearly  all  of  the  valuable  qualities  of  the  Christian 
character.  He  is  still  living  in  Kansas,  in  a  good  old  age, 
awaiting  his  Master's  call. 

This  glorious  work — described  above — continued  about 
six  weeks,  and  resulted  in  a  large  accession  to  the  church. 
It  was  here,  in  Maquoketa,  that  Rev.  Oliver  J.  Cowles  found 
a  companion  in  the  family  of  Brother  and  Sister  Matthews, 
who  were  members  of  my  charge;  his  parents  at  this  time 
residing  in  this  village.  As  one  of  the  results  of  this 
revival,  it  diffused  a  new  interest  in  our  Sunday-school,  and 
from  this  time  onward,  until  my  term  of  labor  expired  in 
this  station,  our  services  here  were  a  spiritual  feast.  In  no 
one  appointment  in  the  state  did  I  experience  such  a  con- 
tinuous spiritual  influence  as  in  this  place,  owing  much  to 
the  interested  superintendents  and  noble  band  of  evangel- 
istic workers.  One  of  the  interesting  departments  of  this 
school  was  the  infant  class,  at  this  time  under  the  care  of 
Sister  Catlin,  numbering  about  fifty  scholars.  No  one  was 


FAILING     HEALTH  —  S.     Y.     HARMAR.  199 

better  qualified  for  such  a  position,  and  no  one  enjoyed  it 
more.  Being  present  on  one  occasion  when  she  was  asking 
questions,  she  inquired:  "  Who  was  the  first  man?"  An-  > 
swer,  "Adam."  "Well,  children,  who  was  the  first  woman?"  / 
'•Mrs.  Adam, "answered  a  little  urchin.  The  little  boy  thought 
of  course  that  if  the  man's  name  was  Adam,  the  wife's  must 
be  the  same.  And  right  here  I  will  present  a  specimen 
of  the  powerful  influence  of  moral  and  religious  teaching 
upon  the  minds  of  children.  Being  always  at  Sunday- 
school,  when  it  was  possible,  I  had  a  fine  opportunity  of 
impressing  upon  the  minds  of  youth  the  importance  of  , 
virtuous  habits.  One  day,  coming  up  the  street,  I  saw  i 
before  me  a  group  of  boys,  earnestly  engaged  in  talking — 
so  much  so,  that  I  was  unobserved.  As  I  approached  j 
near,  one  of  the  boys,  becoming  angry,  swore  very  pro- 
fanely. Looking  around,  he  saw  me,  and  you  never 
saw  a  boy  run  to  the  extent  of  his  powers  faster  than 
he  did;  and  he  continued  until  he  was  out  of  sight.  The 
other  boys  stood  still  and  laughed.  Said  I,  "  Boys,  what 
made  George  run  so  fast?"  One  immediately  answered: 
"  He  had  been  swearing,  and  when  he  saw  you  he  was 
afraid."  The  next  day,  in  Sunday-school,  George  was 
present,  and  I  mentioned  the  circumstance,  when  his  head 
dropped.  Then  I  asked  the  school  to  give  me  a  passage  of 
Scripture  to  prove  that  boys  were  afraid,  and  would  run 
when  they  swore.  Instantly  one  quoted  this  language  of 
Solomon:  "The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth,  but 
the  righteous  are  as  bold  as  a  lion."  How  often  have  I 
thought  of  this  simple  circumstance  as  illustrating  human 
character.  He  was  a  boy,  it  is  true,  but  human  nature  is 
as  plainly  manifest  in  the  boy  as  in  the  man.  And  you 
may  trace  the  elements  of  sin  through  all  of  its  stages  and 
developments,  and  you  will  find  that  it  is  never  to  be  trusted. 
If  it  is  there  in  the  heart,  it  will  crop  out  in  some  form,  and 
then  its  results  are  fear  and  shame.  Take  a  man  who  has 
done  you  an  injury,  and  not  unfrequently  he  will  go  half  a 


200  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

mile  out  of  his  way  to  avoid  meeting  you.  Fear  and  shame 
are  the  fruits  of  wrong-doing — as  much  so  now  as  when  our 
first  parents  tried  to  hide  away  from  God  in  the  garden  of 
Eden;  whilst  an  upright  life  is  always  honored  with  courage 
and  unshaken  confidence.  This  is  the  true  secret  why  the 
pure  man  is  calm  in  the  hour  of  death,  and  happy  in  the 
face  of  his  Judge.  Up  to  this  period  I  had  never  felt  the 
least  symptom  of  failure.  For  more  than  twenty  years  I 
had  been  laboring  in  revival  work  without  attempting 
to  favor  myself  in  the  least,  but  during  this  meeting,  one 
evening,  when  preaching  on  the  redemption  of  time,  becom- 
ing very  much  engaged,  I  felt  a  kind  of  weakness  and  giv- 
ing way  in  my  left  side,  attended  with  acute  pain.  For  a 
time  I  was  fearful  that  I  would  have  to  give  up  my  charge, 
but  warm  weather  corning  on  I  felt  much  relief. 

In  the  labors  of  this  winter,  Rev.  Samuel  Y.  Harmar,  of 
Sabula  circuit,  held  a  meeting  on  his  work  which  I  attended 
for  some  days.  It  was  a  season  of  much  interest,  and  many 
souls  found  peace  in  believing.  When  our  meeting  com- 
menced he  rendered  us  similar  service,  and  our  interchange 
was  very  pleasant  and  profitable.  Brother  Harmar  was 
also  transferred  from  Philadelphia  to  our  conference  in  1857. 
He  came  out  to  Iowa  to  do  service  for  his  Master  and  adopt 
it  as  his  home.  No  one  who  has  seen  him  once  needs  any 
pen-sketch  to  describe  his  person.  He  is  short,  thick,  and 
fleshy,  weighing  about  two  hundred  and  thirty  or  forty 
pounds;  quick  step,  full  round  voice,  a  little  bald,  quite  a 
poet,  and  an  excellent  singer;  always  cheerful  and  happy; 
and  when  he  begins  a  protracted  meeting  he  perseveres  until 
he  makes  it  a  success.  He  has  a  peculiar  gift  in  becoming 
well  acquainted  with  his  people,  and  almost  invariably 
brings  up  a  good  report  from  all  the  interests  of  the  church. 
When  he  starts  out  upon  any  enterprise  he  is  always  hope- 
ful, strong  in  the  faith,  and  often  writes  victory  before  the 
field  is  won.  In  all  of  my  pleasant  acquaintance  with  him, 
and  tight  places  to  which  ministers  are  subject  in  a  new 


TRUE     HEROISM —  R.     L.     COLLIER.  201 

country,  I  never  knew  but  one  in  which  he  cried  for  help; 
and  that  was  at  our  conference  in  Iowa  City,  when  the  bed 
that  sustained  him  and  Brother  Knickerbocker  gave  way 
and  brought  them  into  such  close  communion  that  neither 
skill  nor  physical  force  was  of  any  avail.  Here  were  about 
two  hundred  and  forty  pounds  on  the  one  side,  and  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds  on  the  other,  tending 
more  and  more  to  the  center;  and  the  longer  the  pressure 
the  tighter  the  squeeze;  and  had  it  not  been  that  a  helping 
hand  was  near,  what  the  result  might  have  been,  I  write 
not.  But  timely  aid  was  at  hand,  and  deliverance  ren- 
dered, so  that  they  could  now  sing: 

''From  this  peril  I  am  free; 
Bless  tlielmnd  that  rescued  me!" 

Brother  Harmar,  after  a  faithful  service  of  twenty-two 
years  in  this  state,  retired  from  active  labor  at  the  last  ses- 
sion of  conference  in  Osage;  but  his  name  is  engraven  with 
honor  on  our  church  records,  and  in  the  hearts  of  his  breth- 
ren he  will  long  live  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference. 

Among  the  interesting  events  of  this  year  on  this  charge 
was  the  licensing  of  James  W.  Martin  and  Stephen  Poff 
to  preach  the  gospel  as  local  preachers  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  How  these  brethren  have  improved  this 
great  privilege,  then  conferred,  I  am  unable  to  say,  inas- 
much as  my  fields  of  labor  since  that  time  have  placed 
many  miles  between  us.  I  have  reason  to  hope,  however, 
that  when  the  Master  calls  upon  them  for  a  settlement — as 
he  surely  will  —  each  one  will  be  able  to  say,  "Lord, 
thy  pound  hath  gained  five  pounds."  I  must  here  record 
one  occurrence  of  interest  which  took  place  during  the 
revival  season  of  the  present  year,  A  young  lady  who  had 
recently  embraced  religion  was  invited  to  take  a  sleigh-ride 
of  several  miles  into  the  country  as  a  pleasure  trip.  She 
willingly  consented,  not  suspecting  any  decoy;  when  reach- 
ing the  place  of  destination,  lo!  a  splendid  dance  had 


202  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

been  arranged  and  was  in  successful  operation,  She  at 
once  notified  the  young  man  "  That  she  was  now  serving 
another  Master,  and  should  not  remain;  that  she  should 
return  home,  if  compelled  to  walk  the  whole  distance." 
This  was  a  kind  of  damper  to  her  attendant,  but  he  hon- 
orably returned  the  young  lady  to  her  own  dwelling.  This 
was  conduct  so  noble  and  heroic  on  her  part,  that  I  took 
occasion  to  commend  it  to  the  public  congregation,  and 
trusted  that  such  traits  of  character  would  be  appreciated 
by  some  one  qualified  to  reciprocate. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

About  this  date  (December  13,  1858),  I  received  a  letter 
from  Rev.  R.  L.  Collier,  now  stationed  at  Davenport,  to 
come  down  and  spend  the  Sabbath  in  the  city,  preparatory 
to  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Price.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Hiram  and  Susan  Price,  and  embracing  religion 
under  my  pastoral  labors,  I  was  selected  to  perform  the 
marriage  ceremony.  It  was  announced  in  the  public  con- 
gregation to  take  place  at  nine  o'clock  on  Monday  morning, 
and  an  invitation  given  for  all  to  be  present.  Long  before 
the  time  appointed,  the  Methodist  church  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity,  including  the  minister  and  many  from. Rock 
Island;  and  now  we  await  the  arrival  of  the  parties.  The 
interval  attending  this  delay  of  the  nuptials  is  always 
pleasantly  painful,  and  every  minister  of  the  gospel  knows 
the  nature  of  the  suspense.  Why  it  is  so,  more  than  on 
any  other  public  occasion,  may  not  be  so  easy  to  explain, 
and  yet  such  is  universal  experience.  The  party  having 
arrived,  the  congregation  at  this  point  of  interest  were 
about  to  rise  up,  when  I  requested  all  to  be  seated,  that 
each  one  might  enjoy  a  better  view.  After  the  ceremony 
was  performed,  Judge  Dillon  came  to  me,  commending  my 


AN   "IMMERSION"  —  VISIT   OHIO.  20:> 

marriage  service  as  a  model  form;  then  two  or  three  others; 
which  made  me  feel  very  pleasantly  that  the  occasion  was 
one  most  agreeable  and  satisfactory  to  all.  My  readers  will 
remember  that  the  marriage  of  Judge  Dillon  occurred  five 
years  previous,  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter.  Brother 
Collier  at  this  date  was  a  very  eloquent  and  promising 
young  man,  possessing  popular  talents,  a  fine  voice  and 
very  pleasing  address.  He  labored  about  five  years  in  the 
Upper  Iowa  conference  in  the  very  best  charges,  then  trans- 
ferred his  ministerial  relation  to  the  Rock  River  conference, 
laboring  in  Chicago  some  two  or  three  years.  Having  a 
call  from  the  Unitarian  church,  he  accepted  it,  where  he 
labored  many  years  with  great  acceptance,  and  is  still  a 
minister  of  that  church.  Sister  Mary  Collier  was  a  model 
Christian  lady,  throwing  all  her  influence  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  church  whilst  living,  and  \\hen  her  Lord 
called  she  was  ready;  but  she  never  departed  from  the 
faith  which  at  first  gave  such  a  lustre  to  her  youthful  char- 
acter. Her  remains  are  slumbering  near  the  old  home 
where  she  passed  into  spiritual  life,  awaiting  that  grand 
event,  when  "Beauty  immortal  shall  wake  from  the  tomb." 
The  winter  having  passed,  in  the  month  of  April,  a  Sab- 
bath was  set  apart  for  the  baptism  of  the  young  people 
recently  converted.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  on  Sunday 
morning,  to  see  the  altar  surrounded  with  those  who  a  few 
months  previous  had  found  the  Saviour  on  the  same  spot, 
and  receive  their  pledge  of  fidelity  to  God.  In  the  after- 
noon, as  some  preferred  to  be  immersed,  we  repaired  to  the 
Maquoketa  river,  a  short  distance,  to  finish  up  the  labors  of 
the  day.  I  found  the  water  intensely  cold,  apparently  more 
so,  in  view  of  the  temperature  of  the  weather,  and  one  or 
two  of  the  candidates  could  hardly  survive  the  shock.  As 
I  had  baptized  the  last  person,  and  was  about  starting  for 
the  shore,  I  looked  up  and  saw  one  of  the  old  citizens  com- 
ing toward  the  stream,  headforemost,  his  hat  flying  in 
another  direction,  when,  plunge!  he  went  under  the  water 


#04  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

a  few  feet  from  my  side.  This  last  service  I  had  not 
included  in  my  programme,  and  it  took  me  by  surprise. 
As  it  occasioned  much  merriment  among  the  unconverted 
I  took  occasion  to  administer  reproof  for  such  conduct  upon 
such  a  solemn  occasion.  But  the  novelty  of  the  scene,  and 
the  suppressed  laugh,  so  outweighed  the  force  of  the 
rebuke,  that  I  have  no  idea  that  any  one  was  struck  under 
conviction.  I  have  often  read:  "Only  one  step  from  the 
sublime  to  the  ridiculous,"  but  never  saw  it  realized  as 
upon  this  occasion.  I  afterward  learned  that  the  whole 
plan  had  been  previously  arranged,  and  funds  promised  to 
meet  all  damages.  It  seems  that  the  administrator  of  this 
service,  in  the  early  history  of  the  town,  had  worked  for 
this  man  to  the  amount  of  thirty  or  forty  dollars,  but  could 
never  get  his  pay,  and  that  this  short  method  was  adopted 
to  square  accounts.  The  following  day  the  party  was  prose- 
cuted, when  the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of  five  dollars 
damages  and  costs.  If  the  injured  party  had  been  popu- 
lar in  the  community,  the  result  would  have  been  other- 
wise; but  this  one  item  changed  the  whole  color  of  the 
transaction.  But  not  in  the  estimate  of  Him  "  who  ren- 
dereth  to  every  man  according  to  his  work." 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  in  view  of  my  incessant  labors 
through  the  winter,  and  the  injury  sustained  affecting  my 
side,  the  church  voted  me  a  release  of  six  weeks  to  visit  my 
relatives  and  friends  in  Ohio.  This  was  very  timelv  and 
highly  appreciated.  As  I  had  my  pulpit  supplied  by  dif- 
ferent ministerial  brethren,  it  gave  them  quite  a  variety  in 
its  ministrations.  It  was  now  five  years  since  my  last  visit 
to  this  state,  and  I  found  the  same  striking  contrast  in  the 
world  of  nature.  When  I  left  the  Mississippi,  all  was  still 
under  the  dominion  of  cold  and  frost;  but  on  reaching 
Portsmouth,  Southern  Ohio,  the  hills  and  valleys  were 
clothed  in  green  and  adorned  with  beautiful  flowers.  What 
an  inspiration  do  such  contrasts  impart  to  the  soul  of  man, 
and  especially  to  the  Christian,  who  sees  the  impress  of  God 


HAPPY     SURPRISE C  .     A  .     VAN     A  N  D  A  .          205 

written  upon  every  leaf  and  giving  beauty  to  every  flower; 
and  just  in  proportion  as  we  bear  his  image,  do  we  see  his 
glory  reflected  through  all  of  his  works.  Not  notifying  my 
friends  in  advance  of  my  coming,  I  took  them  by  surprise. 
On  the  Sabbath  I  preached  for  Brother  See,  at  Bigelow 
chapel,  Portsmouth,  and  addressed  the  Sunday-school,  I 
was  now  among  my  old  friends,  many  of  them  the  religious 
companions  of  my  youth,  who  for  many  years  had  been 
kept  by  power  divine,  and  this  reunion  of  friendships  made 
our  communion  sweet.  At  Wheelersburg,  nine  miles  above 
Portsmouth,  and  where  I  publicly  consecrated  my  life  to 
God,  they  were  waiting  my  return,  to  welcome  me  to  my 
former  home.  And  thus,  from  place  to  place,  over  the  old 
consecrated  ground  that  I  traveled  in  my  early  ministry,  it 
was  a  continuous  feast.  When  I  reached  Ironton  I  put  up 
with  Brother  and  Sister  Peters,  the  friends  of  my  youth, 
and  an  ever-welcome  home.  Toward  evening,  who  should 
come  into  my  room  but  Charles  C.  McCabe.  Six  years  pre- 
vious, in  the  city  of  Burlington,  he  left  my  study,  followed 
with  my  prayers  and  tears;  but  now  we  providentially 
meet  in  another  state  with  joy  and  rejoicing.  To  me,  noth- 
ing could  have  been  more  unexpected,  and  nothing  more 
welcome.  To  be  permitted  to  meet  Brother  and  Sister 
Peters  after  an  absence  of  many  years,  filled  the  cup  with 
joy;  but  the  visit  of  Brother  McCabe  in  addition,  caused  it 
to  " run  over"  Rev. C.  A.  VanAnda  was  then  stationed  at 
Spencer  chapel,  and  I  was  booked  to  preach  on  the  Sabbath 
at  half-past  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  Could  any  occasion  have  been 
more  inspiring?  Perhaps  one-half  of  the  audience  had 
been  members  of  my  charge  or  of  my  congregations  fifteen 
years  previous;  and  many  of  them  converted  under  my 
ministry.  Surrounded  with  old  arid  tried  friends,  as  well 
as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  with  the  inspiration  of  Brother 
McCabe,  it  seemed  as  though  I  was  for  an  hour  raised 
above  myself  as  I  discoursed  from  u  Never  man  spake 
like  this  man."  As  to  the  merits  of  the  sermon,  it  would 


206  THE     BATTLE     F  I  E  L  D     REVIEWED. 

be  improper  for  me  to  speak;  but  as  to  the  state  of  my  mind 
I  can  say  "  My  soul  mounted  higher,  in  a  chariot  of  fire, 
and  the  moon  was  under  my  feet."  Such  a  Sunday  of 
reunions  and  true  spiritual  enjoyment  occurs  but  a  few 
times  in  the  history  of  human  life,  and  I  doubt  not  they 
will  remain  bright  when  the  pages  of  this  world  are  trans- 
ferred to  the  records  of  heaven.  As  Brother  McCabe  was 
teaching  in  one  of  the  high  schools  in  this  city,  on  Monday 
I  called  at  his  room,  where  I  found  my  old  friend  Kings- 
bury,  who  was  now  superintendent.  He  said  to  me, 
"  Though  it  has  been  seventeen  years  since  I  heard  your 
voice,  as  I  passed  the  church  yesterday,  when  you  were 
preaching — though  I  did  not  know  that  you  were  in  Ohio — 
I  knew  it  as  soon  I  heard  the  first  sentence."  What  a  mys- 
tery is  man  to  himself.  Though  according -to  the  laws  of 
physiology  the  human  system  undergoes  an  entire  change 
once  in  seven  years,  yet  that  which  constitutes  the  man  is 
still  the  same.  The  eye  that  saw,  the  ear  that  heard,  the 
voice  that  spoke,  twenty  years  ago,  memory  lays  away  care- 
fully in  the  drawer,  and  when  the  occasion  calls  them  out, 
here  they  are,  as  familiar  and  as  fresh  as  though  suns  had 
not  risen,  and  stars  had  not  set.  Ah,  yes!  What  God  hath 
made  immortal,  will  endure  forever. 

In  connection  with  our  Sunday  services,  I  ought  to  have 
said,  and  will  now  say,  that  Brother  VanAnda  preached  a 
very  fine  sermon  in  the  evening  from  "  O  Lord,  I  will 
praise  thee."  When  dwelling  upon  silent  praise,  he  pre- 
sented some  grand  and  sublime  thoughts.  He  had  the 
towering  mountains,  the  waving  forests,  the  old  Egyptian 
pyramids,  all  vying  with  each  other  in  their  offerings  of 
praise  to  God.  On  Monday  evening  we  enjoyed  one  of 
those  seasons  of  Christian  fellowship  seldom  surpassed  in 
its  spiritual  power  with  clear  and  intelligent  testimonies.  In 
that  audience  there  sat  Dan  Young,  Thomas  O'Neal, 
Brother  Hand  and  Brother  Gillam,  with  many  others, 
whose  faces  I  was  looking  upon  for  the  last  time  on  earth. 


SKETCH     OF     €  .     C  .     M    C  A  B  E  .  207 

We  parted  that  evening,  never  again  to  meet  until  we  em- 
brace each  other  on  immortal  shores.  It  was  here  at  Brother 
Peters',  in  Ironton,  where  Rev.  C.  C.  McCabe  first  became 
acquainted  with  one  whom  he  thought  worthy  and  suitable 
to  become  a  companion  for  life.  Miss  Peters  had  recently 
graduated  in  Cincinnati,  and  was  a  young  lady  of  fine 
appearance,  of  piety  and  intelligence.  It  was  not  long  before 
her  name  was  changed  to  McCabe,  which  consummation  I 
trust  neither  has  had  cause  to  regret  during  the  experience 
of  twenty-one  years.  Among  the  many  old  friends,  the  six 
weeks  allotted  me  soon  passed  away,  and  in  the  early  part 
of  June  I  arrived  in  safety  at  my  pastoral  charge  in  Ma- 
quoketa.  We  passed  a  very  pleasant  summer,  with  great 
peace  and  prosperity  in  the  church,  and  wound  up  the 
labors  of  the  year  writing  success  in  all  of  its  interests.  We 
will  now  interest  our  readers  with  a  sketch  of  Rev.  C.  C. 
McCabe,  D.D.,  assistant  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Rev.  Charles  Cardwell  McCabe  was  born  at  Athens,  Ohio, 
Oct.  11,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Cardwell 
(Robinson)  McCabe.  His  great-grandfather,  on  the  male 
side,  was  a  native  of  the  county  of  Cavan,  Ireland,  and  de- 
scended from  Covenanter  stock.  His  father  was  a  man  of 
noble  and  generous  impulses,  and  was  for  many  years  a 
merchant  and  railroad  contractor  in  the  West.  He  died  in 
Chicago,  in  June,  1872,  loved  and  respected.  His  mother 
was  born  in  England,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  this 
country  when  seven  years  of  age.  She  was  a  lady  of  high 
social  position  and  fine  literary  attainments,  whose  name 
was  well  known  as  a  contributor  to  the  Ladies*  Repository 
in  the  earlier  days  of  Ohio  Methodism.  Her  life  as  a  Chris- 
tian was  characterized  by  deep  piety  and  benevolence,  and 
as  a  mother,  by  unceasing  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  her 
children.  She  died  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  in  1852,  in  the  full 
assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality.  During  the  first  ten 
years  of  his  life,  Dr.  McCabe  was  a  very  delicate  child.  In- 


208  T  H  E     11  A  T  T  L  E     FIE  L  1)     REVIEWED. 

deed,  during  all  of  that  period,  he  never  passed  what  might 
be  called  a  well  day;  nor  was  it  till  ten  or  twelve  years  since 
that  he  attained  to  robust  and  muscular  manhood.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  which  he  entered 
in  1853,  remaining  four  years,  and  receiving  a  full  classical 
and  theological  course.  From  the  earliest  dawn  of  reason 
he  was  a  believer  in  Christianity;  his  heart  was  touched  by 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  childhood,  and,  like  Samuel,  he  was 
"Lent  to  the  Lord  from  his  birth."  He  always  desired  to 
be  a  Methodist  minister.  This  was  the  one  and  the  only 
ambition  of  his  life. 

After  leaving  college  he  taught  school  for  two  years  to 
pay  expenses  of  his  education,  his  father  at  that  time  being 
in  straitened  circumstances.  On  the  5th  of  July,  1860,  he 
married  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  Peters,  Esq.,  of 
Ironton,  Ohio,  a  lady  well-qualified  to  fill  a  wife's  place  in 
the  sphere  in  which  her  husband  moves.  They  have  one 
son,  named  John  Peters',  a  youth  of  fine  appearance  and 
good  parts,  likely  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  his  father.  Dr. 
McCabe  entered  the  ministry  the  same  year  in  which  he 
was  married,  joining  the  Ohio  conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  first  charge  was  Putnam,  in  that 
state,  where  he  remained  over  a  year.  In  18(32  he  entered 
the  army  as  chaplain  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Second 
Ohio  infantry,  Col.  Wm.  H.  Ball  of  Zanesville  commanding, 
and  followed  the  fortunes  of  that  regiment  until  June,  1863, 
when,  during  the  raid  of  Lee  into  Pennsylvania,  while  with 
his  regiment  in  the  defense  of  Winchester,  he  was  captured 
by  the  rebel  Gen.  Early,  with  others,  and  sent  to  Libby 
prison,  where  he  remained  four  months,  his  health  being 
most  seriously  impaired  by  the  rigors  of  the  incarceration. 
He  was  exchanged  on  the  28th  of  October  following.  Many 
thrilling  passages  might  be  produced  from  lectures  after- 
wards delivered  by  him  before  vast  audiences,  on  life  in 
that  notorious  "keep."  While  yet  suffering  from  the 
effects  of  his  imprisonment,  and  looking  more  like  a  gal- 


CHRISTIAN      COMMISSION.  209 

vanized  skeleton  than  a  living  man,  at  the  request  of  George 
H.  Stuart,  of  Philadelphia,  he  delivered  many  addresses  in 
behalf  of  the  Christian  Commission,  an  organization  that 
accomplished  untold  good  on  behalf  of  the  sick  and  suffer- 
ing soldiers.  Over  *one  hundred  thousand  dollars  were 
raised  for  the  commission  by  the  efforts  of  Chaplain  McCabe, 
assisted  by  John  V.  Farwell  and  B.  F.  Jacobs  of  Chicago, 
Wm.  Reynolds  of  Peoria,  and  M.  P.  Ayres  of  Jacksonville, 
111.  It  was  during  his  visit  to  Jacksonville  that  Jacob 
Strawn,  the  giant  farmer  of  the  West,  proposed  to  give  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  the  Christian  Commission,  on  condition 
that  the  remaining  farmers  of  Morgan  county  could  be  in- 
duced to  give  that  much  more.  The  condition  was  more 
than  complied  with;  Mr.  Ayres  sending  on  one  occasion  to 
George  H.  Stuart  the  sum  of  twenty-three  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  the  result  of  ten  days'  work  in  that  county. 
After  the  chaplain's  return  to  his  regiment,  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  then  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  a  great  revival  of  religion 
broke  out  in  the  brigade  to  which  he  was  attached.  Meet- 
ings were  held  every  night  in  the  open  air  or  in  a  large 
tent,  and  many  souls  were  converted  to  God  as  the  result. 
Over-exertion  in  this  great  work  brought  on  a  relapse  of  his 
former  illness,  and  for  several  weeks  he  was  in  a  most  criti- 
cal condition.  A  few  months,  however,  found  him  again  at 
his  post  of  duty,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  regular  ministry  of  his 
church,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1865  was  placed  in  the  pastoral 
charge  of  a  large  congregation  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio.  Here, 
within  a  short  time,  he  secured  the  erection  of  a  fine 
church  at  a  cost  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  mainly  raised  by 
his  own  efforts.  He  was  not,  however,  permitted  to  remain 
long  at  pastoral  work.  His  gifts  had  fitted  him  for  a  broader 
theater  of  action  and  a  wider  field  of  usefulness.  At  the 
call  of  his  conference  in  1866,  he  accepted  the  position  of 
centenary  agent  to  utilize  the  enthusiasm  pervading  the 
Methodist  body  of  Ohio  during  the  centenary  year  of  Meth- 
15 


0  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

odisrn  in  America,  with  a  view  to  the  endowment  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  university.  This  position  he  held  for  two 
years  with  the  most  satisfactory  results.  In  the  autumn  of 
1SG8,  his  superior  talents  as  a  financial  agent  were  called 
into  requisition  in  a  national  enterprise  for  the  extension  of 
the  church,  and  the  placing  of  the  society  for  that  purpose 
upon  a  solid  basis.  This  position  he  has  held  for  the  past 
thirteen  years,  his  headquarters  being  in  Chicago,  and  travel- 
ing not  less  than  twenty  five  thousand  miles  annually  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties.  His  efforts  have  been  crowned 
with  marvelous  success.  Beside  his  regular  work,  "the  care 
of  all  the  [weak]  churches,"  he  has  been  mainly  instrumental 
in  building  up  a  "loan  fund"  in  the  treasury  of  the  Board 
of  Church  Extension,  which  has  already  reached  the  royal 
sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  cash, 
and  in  subscriptions  and  real  estate  over  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  more.  As  long  as  time  lasts  will  the  influence 
of  this  movement  be  felt  by  the  church  and  by  the  nation. 
It  has  become  a  power  in  the  land.  It  extends  a  helping 
hand  to  some  struggling  church  seven  times  each  week,  and 
it  is  the  aim  of  its  officers  to  aid  two  churches  each  day  of  the 
year.  Dr.  A.  J.  Kynett,  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  is 
corresponding  secretary  of  this  most  excellent  organization. 
In  his  labors  in  this  connection  Dr.  McCabe  has  invaded  the 
territory  of  the  u  Saints."  He  assumed  a  debt  of  forty 
thousand  dollars  upon  our  church  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
with  the  help  of  his  thousands  of  friends,  raised  the  money 
and  paid  every  dollar  of  it.  He  has  also  aided  in  building 
a  church  in  Salem,  Oregon,  which  is  by  far  the  finest  struc- 
ture in  the  state,  at  a  cost  of  forty-five  thousand  dollars. 
These  are  the  works  that  constitute  his  record,  and  these  are 
the  labors  which  shall  be  his  monument  when  the  heavens 
are  no  more. 

As  a  lecturer  on  popular  subjects,  and  especially  in  be- 
half of  the  objects  of  his  mission,  he  has  few  superiors.  His 
style  is  terse,  pungent,  and  irresistible.  His  pathos  is  from 


G  R  A  N  1)     S  E  li  M  O  N  .  1 

the  heart,  and  goes  directly  to  the  heart.  It  is  the  logic  of 
human  feeling  and  Christian  love,  and  he  who  would  avoid 
its  application  must  either  destroy  God's  precepts  or  crucify 
his  own  conscience.  There  is  no  escape  from  his  all-power- 
ful grasp.  When  he  buckles  on  his  armor  resistance  is  idle, 
whether  he  assails  the  impenitent  heart  or  lays  siege  to  the 
purse  of  the  listener.  His  lecture  on  the  "  Bright  Side  of  Life 
in  Libby  Prison"  was  in  the  greatest  demand  for  years  after 
that  dark  spot  on  our  national  humanity  had  been  wiped 
out.  But,  indeed,  no  place  could  be  without  a  bright  side 
that  was  enlivened  by  the  cheering  presence  of  Dr.  McCabe. 
Like  Paul  and  Silas  in  the  Philippian  prison,  he  and  his 
comrades  sang  praises  at  midnight,  and  the  prisoners  heard 
them,  a  spiritual  earthquake  shook  the  prison,  the  Holy 
Spirit  descended  and  opened  the  prison  doors  of  guilt  and 
fear  to  many  hearts,  and  the  spiritual  shackles  fell  from 
many  limbs.  In  view  of  this  aspect  of  the  case,  well  might 
he  dwell  upon  "  The  Bright  Side  of  Life  in  Libby."  At  the 
reception  of  the  news  of  the  victory  of  Gettysburg,  the 
rugged  walls  of  the  old  dungeon  re-echoed  the  strains  of  the 
Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic,  led  by  the  chaplain: 

"Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coining  of  the  Lord, 

He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored, 

He  has  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  his  terribly  swift  sword, 

Our  God  is  marching  on. 

Glory,  glory  hallelujah" 

Added  to  all,  he  is  an  accomplished  vocalist.  His  sing- 
ing, which  is  solemn,  sweet  and  rare,  is  a  cogent  illustration 
of  the  soothing  power  of  music,  even  upon  the  savage  breast. 
He  is  emphatically  the  sweet  psalmist  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  politically  an  ardent  Republican.  The  degree 
of  D.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Fisk  university  of  Ten- 
nessee, in  1875.  His  brothers  are  L.  G.  and  R.  R.  McCabe, 
printers,  of  Chicago,  and  his  only  sister,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Starr,  Esq.,  of  Chicago,  111. 


THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER     XXX. 

This  year  (1859)  we  meet  for  conference  at  Iowa  City;  and 
being  elected  secretary,  I  was  assigned  the  task  of  trans- 
cribing the  journals  of  the  four  years  previous  preparatory 
to  the  next  General  Conference.  Nothing  of  unusual  occur- 
rence took  place  at  this  session,  except  the  election  of  dele- 
gates, which  is  always  an  occasion  of  much  interest.  The 
good  people  of  this  city  entertained  the  conference  with 
honor  to  themselves,  and  with  satisfaction  to  all.  At  its  close, 
I  was  returned  to  Maquoketa  station,  as  my  friends  had  re- 
quested it,  and  now  I  enter  upon  the  labors  of  another  year. 
Perhaps  very  few  charges  ever  presented  a  more  inviting 
field  of  labor  than  this  at  the  present  time.  No  embarrassing 
debts  to  meet,  no  unhappy  difficulties  to  settle,  no  back- 
slidden church  to  restore  to  spiritual  life,  but  wide  sail  and 
a  pleasant  breeze.  After  my  return,  and  matters  were  ar- 
ranged for  the  coming  year,  I  attended  the  session  of  the 
Iowa  conference,  held  at  Muscatine,  Bishop  Simpson  pre- 
siding; and  being  desirous  of  hearing  him  preach,  I  made 
my  arrangements  to  stay  over  the  Sabbath.  His  discourse 
was  from  "  Preach  the  Word."  In  effect  it  was  not  equal 
to  that  at  Keokuk,  referred  to  previously,  and  yet  in  thought 
it  was  not  inferior.  As  I  did  not  take  any  notes  of  his  sermon 
my  references  must  be  limited.  He  remarked  that  the 
Christian  ministry  towered  far  above  every  other  profession, 
however  honorable,  in  that  of  its  "wider  compa-ss."  The 
artist  taxed  all  of  his  powers  to  excel  in  one  single  art;  the 
mechanic  was  confined  to  narrow  limits,  and  bent  all  of  his 
energies  to  his  trade;  the  physician  spent  a  life-time  to 
search  out  the  secrets  of  disease  and  apply  the  remedy;  all 
the  powers  of  the  lawyer  were  employed  in  securing  legal 
knowledge  that  he  might  honor  his  profession,  and  of  the 
geologist  in  the  examination  of  the  earth's  strata;  but  whilst 


A     TEXT     G1VEX —  A     SOUL    SAVED. 

all  these  were  confined  to  one  single  branch  of  science,  the 
Christian  minister,  in  his  theme,  embraced  all  science.  I 
aim  to  give  only  the  idea,  but  not  the  language.  But  there 
was  one  presentation  of  his  subject  peculiarly  beautiful. 
He  stated  that  after  the  deepest  researches  of  the  human 
mind,  embracing  the  most  gigantic  intellects,  and  the  most 
glowing  descriptions  in  human  language,  sweeping  the 
whole  field  of  nature  and  of  art,  •"  They  were  but  God's 
little  thoughts,  let  down  from  heaven  to  earth,  accommo- 
dated to  man's  feeble  capacity."  After  the  sermon,  Hon. 
Hiram  Price  said  to  me — quoting  some  of  the  bishop's  lan- 
guage— "Wasn't  that  grand?"  I  began  to  query  in  my 
mind,  if  such  be  "  God's  little  thoughts,"  what  must  be  his 
great  ones?  If  such  be  the  brightness  of  the  page,  what 
must  be  the  glory  of  the  volume? 

Upon  my  return  home,  riding  in  my  buggy,  the  distance 
thirty  miles,  T  concluded  to  improve  the  time  in  studying  a 
subject  for  the  coming  Sabbath.  In  meditating  as  to 
my  text,  at  once  it  was  suggested  to  my  mind:  "This  is 
the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith." 
Why  is  it,  said  I,  that  this  scripture  was  presented  in  such 
a  clear  and  forcible  way?  The  entire  arrangement,  which 
I  still  retain,  was  presented  as  readily  as  the  text  itself,  and 
long  before  the  thirty  miles  were  traveled,  my  sermon  was 
all  ready  for  the  pulpit,  without  paper  or  pencil.  When 
reaching  home,  in  order  that  nothing  might  be  lost,  I  wrote 
out  the  sketch  as  presented  to  my  mind,  and  on  Sunday 
morning  delivered  it  to  my  congregation.  I  was  favored 
with  great  liberty  and  personal  enjoyment,  but  nothing 
further  was  as  yet  revealed.  On  Monday  morning,  Sister 
Catlin,  that  blessed  sister  now  in  heaven,  said  to  me:  "  Sister 
M.  wishes  to  see  you;  I  think  she  has  good  news  for  you." 
Accordingly  I  went  over  to  her  house.  She  looked  as 
bright  as  a  morning  in  May,  and  welcomed  me  most 
heartily.  "  I  sent  for  you  to  let  you  know  that  my  soul 
was  saved  yesterday  under  your  sermon.  I  have  been  a 


214  THE     KATTI.K     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

member  of  the  church  for  twelve  years,  and  long  sought 
this  blessing,  but  never  obtained  it,  and  often  I  have  been 
almost  discouraged.  Yesterday,  as  soon  as  you  gave  out 
your  text,  I  was  at  once  impressed,  '-now  is  my  time;"1  and 
whilst  you  were  preaching  I  was  praying,  and  trying  to  exer- 
cise faith;  when  about  half  through,  the  blessing  came,  and 
it  was  too  good  news  to  keep,  and  I  have  called  you  in  to 
tell  you  that  I  am  happy  in  the  Lord."  I  now  needed  no 
interpreter  to  explain  the  whole  matter,  but  I  saw  great 
beauty  in  the  language  of  Cowper:  "God  is  his  own 
interpreter,  and  he  will  make  it  plain."  Should  I  say  here, 
that  I  place  a  very  high  estimate  upon  this  text  and  ser- 
mon, no  one  will  think  it  strange,  as  1  have  not  the  shadow 
of  a  doubt  that  they  were  divinely  given;  not  only  to  reach 
this  individual  instance,  but  perhaps  many  more  yet  unre- 
vealed;  and  oh,  how  encouraging  to  know,  in  the  work  of 
saving  souls,  that  there  is  an  unseen  power  that  sanctions 
every  truth  and  aids  in  every  effort!  And  though  we  are 
called  to  walk  by  faith,  and  toil  by  faith,  the  shout  of  victory 
will  be  ours  at  last. 

In  the  various  duties  now  before  me,  I  engaged  heartily 
in  carrying  out  the  wish  of  my  conference  in  transcribing 
the  journals  for  the  coming  General  Conference.  I  found 
it  to  be  a  heavier  task  than  I  had  anticipated,  requiring  a 
portion  of  my  time  every  day  for  about  six  weeks.  But 
the  work  was  creditably  finished,  and  will  remain  among 
the  records  of  our  conference,  as  a  kind  of  memorial,  long 
after  the  writer  is  in  heaven.  Having  to  preach  frequently 
three  times  on  the  Sabbath  in  this  station,  when  I  could 
find  a  supply  for  the  third  one,  it  was  very  timely.  I  was 
aided  in  some  instances  by  Brother  Catlin;  at  others,  by 
some  brother  from  an  adjoining  charge.  One  Sunday  eve- 
ning, having  such  a  supply,  the  brother  prefaced  his  sermon 
with  a  long  apology,  stating  that  "  he  was  quite  ill  in  body, 
much  fatigued  with  former  labors,  in  no  condition  to  preach, 
but  would  talk  to  them  a  short  time."  And  this  same  inva- 


COUNSEL     ON     MAURI  AGE.  215 

lid  preached  one  whole  hour,  as  though  the  elements  of 
mind  and  matter  were  warring  with  each  other,  and  mind's 
victory  depended  upon  flesh's  overthrow.  What  a  want  of 
harmony  between  the  statement  and  the  discourse.  In 
"  this  little  talk"  to  which  we  were  prepared  to  listen,  the 
gentle  breeze  had  become  a  gale,  and  the  rill  a  moun- 
tain torrent.  In  the  interpretation  I  could  not  escape  this 
conclusion:  "  Now, gentlemen  and  ladies,  you  have  a  speci- 
men of  what  I  can  do  when  beset  with  infirmities.  What 
a  tower  of  strength  would  I  present  were  I  but  in  my  hap- 
piest mood."  I  am  glad  that  the  time  has  come  when 
this  silly  habit  is  estimated  at  its  real  value,  and  by  an  intel- 
ligent people  considered  but  an  insult  to  their  good  taste. 

A  young  man  of  my  acquaintance,  about  this  time,  wish- 
ing to  honor  our  rule  of  discipline  in  relation  to  marriage, 
consulted  me  by  letter  as  to  its  propriety.  Of  course  I 
gave  him  the  wisest  and  the  best  within  my  jurisdiction. 
My  counsel  included  about  three  items — First,  Will  she 
make  you  a  good  wife?  Second,  Are  you  ready  to  enter 
into  this  relation?  If  you  can  give  an  affirmative  answer 
to  these  questions,  then — Third,  "  Strike  without  delay  and 
take  the  citadel  of  bliss."  Had  I  asked  the  third  question, 
it  would  have  been  this,  "  Are  you  not  already  engaged?" 
In  very  many  instances  of  this  kind,  the  prayers  and  coun- 
sels come  in  as  a  kind  of  reserve.  Whenever  I  have  been 
consulted  in  this  matter — as  I  often  have  been — I  have 
reached  this  conclusion:  He  wants  that  young  lady.  Want- 
ing her,  he  will  be  almost  certain  to  secure  her  if  he  can. 
Therefore  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  help  answer  his  prayers,  for 
a  young  man's  prayers  on  this  subject  always  follow  in  the 
wake  of  his  love.  As  an  evidence  of  the  truth  of  my 
remarks,  I  knew  one  young  man  consulting  his  older  breth- 
ren, with  the  license  of  marriage  in  his  pocket.  This  whole 
matter  has  its  illustration  in  the  case  of  a  brother,  then  a 
young  man,  whose  name  is  very  familiar  in  the  Ohio  con- 
ference. Looking  around  with  interest,  he  found  the  one 


216  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

at  last  that  was  exactly  to  his  taste.  Entering  her  room, 
when  engaged  at  work,  he  made  known  to  her  the  very  deli- 
cate subject,  and  wished  to  know  "  what  she  thought  about 
it."  She  politely  intimated  that  a  "  matter  of  such  import- 
ance required  serious  consideration  and  prayer  before 
deciding  it."  To  this  he  assented  most  heartily;  stating 
that  he  "  had  considered  it  well,  and  now  let  us  pray."  I 
suppose  that  this  prayer  was  full  of  the  assurance  of  hope, 
for  a  direct  answer  was  received,  and  through  a  long  life  of 
toil  and  usefulness  in  the  Master's  cause,  they  were  one 
with  unswerving  fidelity. 

On  Maquoketa  circuit  there  was  a  young  minister  by  the 
name  of  Brewer,  who  occasionally  changed  with  me  in 
preaching,  /.  e  ,  I  would  go  out  and  preach  for  him  in  the 
afternoon,  when  he  would  return  with  me  and  preach  at 
night.  One  of  his  appointments,  about  five  miles  out,  was 
at  Twiss'  school-house,  where  a  minister  of  another  denomi- 
nation preached  also.  Caleb  Twiss  was  our  class-leader  at 
this  point,  and  he  was  very  much  annoyed  by  this  minister, 
who  would  attend  his  class  and  prayer  meetings  and  assume 
control,  and  thereby  defeat  the  design  of  the  meeting.  It 
was  right  here,  after  the  morning  service,  when  one  of  these 
difficulties  took  place,  and  the  excitement  ran  high,  that 
I  preached  for  him  in  the  afternoon.  Ignorant  of  the  dif- 
ficulty, and  also  the  name  of  Brother  Twiss,  I  took  for  my 
text:  "  But  my  servant  Caleb,  because  he  had  another 
Spirit  with  him,  and  hath  followed  me  fully,  him  will  I 
bring  into  the  land  whereinto  he  went,  and  his  seed  shall 
possess  it."  When  quoting  my  text,  I  saw  a  smile  all  over 
the  audience,  but  the  cause  I  knew  not.  The  minister 
being  present,  as  well  as  the  leader,  only  gave  intensity  to 
the  feeling.  When  I  dwelt  upon  the  character  of  the  spies, 
their  cowardice  and  false  reports,  and  commended  the  cour- 
age, faith,  and  fidelity  of  Caleb,  they  all  thought  that  I 
was  drawing  the  picture  of  their  difficulties  and  presenting 
its  moral.  And  especially  when  I  came  to  the  application, 


TRIBUTE    TO     DR.     D.     H.    WHEELER. 

that  we  were  all  reporters,  either  false  or  true,  it  was  hard 
for  the  congregation  to  suppress  their  emotions.  Had  1 
known  the  nature  of  the  whole  difficulty  I  could  not  have 
been  more  true  to  history.  Meeting  closed,  we  started 
home,  and  when  fairly  out  of  sight,  Brother  Brewer  laid 
down  upon  the  grass  and  poured  out  the  warm  effusions  of 
his  soul  in  a  burst  of  laughter.  The  forces  had  been  so 
long  gathering,  that  it  was  meet  that  they  should  find 
relief  "in  the  desert  air."  How  many  such  waves  of  merri- 
ment started  out  upon  the  passing  breezes  of  that  after- 
noon I  am  unable  to  say,  but  the  citizens  of  that  place  long 
remembered  the  "Caleb  sermon  "  with  its  personal  appli- 
cations. 

The  fall  and  winter  of  this,  my  second  year  in  this  sta- 
tion, passed  off  very  pleasantly  until  our  second  quarterly 
meeting,  when  I  found  that  the  injury  received  in  my  side 
the  year  previous  had  become  so  painful  that  I  should  be 
compelled  to  give  up  my  charge.  This  was  a  new,  and  the 
hardest  trial  of  my  life.  My  faith  and  grace  had  been 
tested  in  many  ways,  but  here  was  a  new  experience,  and 
it  was  some  time  before  I  rose  in  triumph  above  it.  But 
even  here  I  found  the  "  grace  of  God  sufficient."  Before  my 
resignation,  however,  we  enjoyed  a  very  pleasant  repast  in 
what  we  called  a  "tea  meeting,"  accompanied  with  refresh- 
ments, and  two  or  three  addresses  from  different  minis- 
terial brethren.  Brothers  Kynett,  Brindell,  and  Professor 
Wheeler  from  Mt.  Vernon  college,  were  the  speakers  on 
this  occasion.  Brother  Kynett  being  the  principal  speaker 
on  a  similar  occasion  the  year  previous,  and  Brother  Brin- 
dell their  old  pastor,  they  assigned  the  main  speech  to 
Professor  "Wheeler.  I  shall  not  say  too  much  when  I  state 
that  he  did  honor  to  the  occasion.  It  was  not  only  a  season 
of  rare  social  enjoyment,  but  of  financial  success,  netting 
about  one  hundred  dollars.  Doctor  David  H.  Wheeler  was 
for  several  years  atMt.  Vernon,  Iowa,  honoring  his  position, 
when,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


218  T  II  E     IJ  A  T  T  I,  E     FIE  L  I>     R  E,V  I  E  W  E  I)  . 

by  the  government  consul  to  Italy.  Returning  to  the 
United  States,  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  professor  of 
languages  in  the  Northwestern  university,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
which  position  he  held  until  he  was  called  to  the  editorship 
of  the  Methodist,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  which  responsible 
post  he  has  held  for  the  last  six  years.  It  may  be  truth- 
fully said  of  Doctor  Wheeler,  wherever  he  has  been  tried, 
that  he  has  proved  to  be  "•  the  right  man  in  the  right  place." 
After  my  resignation  of  the  charge  in  Maquoketa,  some  of 
my  Methodist  friends  preparing  to  go  to  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains in  the  spring,  requested  me  to  accompany  them. 
Believing  the  journey  across  the  plains,  and  the  moun- 
tain air,  to  be  the  very  thing  I  needed,  I  consented  to  bear 
them  company.  So  on  the  thirteenth  of  March,  1860,  we  bade 
our  friends  adieu  in  the  city  and  started  for  the  land  of 
gold.  I  said  to  my  Christian  friends  when  starting,  that  if 
any  evil  reports  came  back  as  to  my  ministerial  character, 
not  to  credit  them,  as  I  intended  to  honor  God  in  the  desert 
as  well  as  at  home  among  the  sacred  influences  of  the 
church. 


CHAPTER  xxxi. 

We  were  thirteen  days  on  our  journey  through  to  Coun- 
cil Bluffs,  and  found  the  distance  to  be  three  hundred  and 
fifty  miles.  Before  we  left  home,  we  agreed  that  we  would 
not  travel  on  the  Sabbath  unless  it  were  absolutely  necessary, 
which  pledge  was  kept  sacred.  The  weather  continuing  dry 
and  warm,  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  remaining  almost 
four  weeks  at  the  Bluffs  waiting  for  grass  upon  the  plains. 
But  to  me  this  was  not  a  barren  season, as  I  found  here  quite 
a  number  of  old  friends  of  other  years.  Among  them 
were  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  Doctor  Golliday,  pastor  of  the 
M.  E.  church,  E/ra  Millard,  of  Omaha,  and  a  number  of 
others.  In  fact  my  stay  here  was  one  of  the  most  interest- 


VISIT    TO     THE     LAND     OF    GOLD. 

ing  character.  Once  I  preached  for  the  doctor  and  went 
with  him  to  a  very  interesting  wedding.  Nothing  is  truer 
than  the  language  of  Cowper:  "  There  is  rnercy  in  every 
place."  Yes,  and  there  is  true  enjoyment  in  every  place, 
if  our  hearts  are  right  in  the  sight  of  God.  Having  been 
honored  by  my  company  with  the  office  of  cook  and  finan- 
cier, I  spared  no  pains  that  I  might  manage  the  one  and  be 
well  qualified  for  the  other.  April  23,  we  left  Council 
Bluffs  and  started  out  upon  the  plains.  The  monotony  of 
traveling  for  several  days  was  broken  only  by  Indians  beg- 
ging for  something  to  eat.  They  are  the  most  incessant 
beggars  I  ever  saw,  and  had  we  listened  to  their  calls,  our 
larders  would  soon  have  been  empty.  We  had  to  make 
one  exception,  however.  Whilst  eating  supper  one  evening, 
the  Pawnee  chief  called  upon  us  with  his  two  wives  and 
requested  something  to  eat.  I  gave  him  some  bread  and 
meat  in  his  hand,  but  he  shook  his  head,  pointing  to  our 
dishes;  so,  after  we  had  finished,  I  had  him  and  his  squaws 
set  up  to  the  table,  which  they  seemed  to  enjoy  most 
heartily.  On  his  neck  he  wore  a  medal,  with  the  inscrip- 
tion: "  James  Buchanan,  president  of  the  United  States." 
I  asked  him,  by  signs,  where  he  obtained  it.  He  pointed 
toward  Washington.  I  asked  him  its  worth,  in  dollars. 
(He  knew  the  meaning  of  dollars).  He  lifted  up  his  hands 
twice,  numbering  his  fingers  and  thumbs,  making  twenty 
dollars.  I  asked  him  how  he  reached  Washington  city. 
He  gave  me  first,  &  journeying  motion;  second,  a  puffing  and 
paddling;  and  lastly,  whew!  As  much  as  to  say,  part  the 
way  on  our  ponies,  then  on  a  steamboat,  and  lastly  on  the 
cars.  As  he  left  us,  he  bowed  very  gracefully,  and  with  his 
charge  was  soon  out  of  sight.  The  Pawnees  are  a  small 
Indian  compared  with  the  Sioux,  and  yet  such  is  their  per- 
fection of  discipline  in  riding  their  ponies,  and  shooting  on 
horseback,  that  they  are  more  than  a  match  for  them  on  the 
battle-field. 

From  Omaha  to  Denver,  we  passed  through   four  or  five 


220  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

tribes,  and  we  found  their  appearance,  their  habits  and 
traits  of  character  about  the  same.  Their  wigwams  are  the 
same  in  structure,  their  clothing  of  the  same  material,  and 
their  adornments  after  the  same  fashion.  As  we  passed 
through  their  towns,  the  young  Indians  would  come  out  by 
scores,  almost  naked,  begging  for  something  to  eat.  I  had 
read  in  my  youthful  days  about  female  beauty  among  the 
Indian  tribes,  but  during  this  trip  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  more  fanciful  than  real.  They  were  in  the  habit 
of  stampeding  the  horses  frequently,  which  gave  them  a 
better  opportunity  for  stealing  them  from  their  owners. 
They  did  this  bv  creeping  up  slyly  near  to  the  place  where 
they  were  feeding,  about  dusk,  then  suddenly  flutter  a 
handkerchief  or  piece  of  cloth,  which  would  scare  the  ani- 
mals, when  away  would  go  a  dozen  at  a  time.  Before  they 
could  be  secured,  the  Indians  would  overtake  them  and 
bear  them  away.  We  had  one  experience  of  this  kind 
through  the  plains,  but  fortunately  our  horses  did  not 
admire  Indian  character,  and  they  escaped  out  of  their 
hands;  but  it  delayed  our  travel  nearly  a  day.  We  were 
constantly  hearing  evil  reports,  how  emigrants  had  been 
waylaid  and  murdered,  but  it  was  all  in  the  distance. 

In  one  of  our  companies,  a  little  in  advance  of  us,  there 
occurred  an  amusing  incident,  similar  in  character  to  that 
related  as  occurring  near  Smithland,  Iowa.  In  the  company 
they  had  one  of  those  braves,  who  boasted  what  great 
things  he  would  do  should  the  Indians  attack  them.  They 
concluded  to  test  his  heroism  in  a  very  peculiar  way.  Sleep- 
ing in  a  light-covered  wagon  every  night,  they  so  arranged 
their  camping-ground  that  his  was  left  on  a  sidling  place. 
About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  he  was  sound  asleep,  three 
or  four  of  the  company  upset  his  wagon,  accompanying  its 
fall  with  a  terrible  yell,  when  our  brave  left  all  and  sought 
safety  in  flight.  Having  left  his  pantaloons  in  the  wagon, 
when  all  was  still  and  the  danger  past,  as  he  supposed,  he 
returned.  Having  notified  his  comrades  of  the  disaster 


ANTELOPE     AND     PRAIRIE     DOG.  221 

which  had  befallen  him,  they  assisted  him  in  righting  up 
matters  until  the  return  of  daylight.  When  the  morning 
returned,  among  the  missing  articles  were  his  pants — 
nowhere  to  be  found.  This  being  the  only  pair  on  hand, 
and  they  gone,  his  only  recourse  was  a  substitute.  So,  hav- 
ing a  few  empty  flour  sacks,  he  took  one  for  the  body,  then 
sewed  on  one  for  each  leg,  with  strings  for  suspenders,  and 
holes  cut  in  the  sack  for  buttons,  and  now  he  is  ready  for 
travel.  There  being  no  danger  of  friction,  and  plenty  of 
fresh  air,  he  had  what  might  be  called  a  "icicle  bertJi"  They 
had  traveled  but  a  short  distance  when  they  met  some 
Indians,  who  were  so  amused  at  this  new  suit  that  they 
jumped  up  and  cried  out,  "Wah!  white  man,  wah!"  I 
need  only  to  say,  when  the  joke  was  ended,  that  his  com- 
rades delivered  up  his  pants  and  revealed  the  whole  trag- 
edy; but  his  zeal  for  another  fight  with  the  Indians  never 
again  came  to  the  surface. 

As  we  approached  nearer  the  Rocky  mountains,  we  were 
not  very  favorably  impressed  with  the  humanity  of  our  emi- 
grants, in  witnessing  the  skulls  and  bones  of  the  buffalo  as 
they  were  scattered  over  the  plains.  On  one  occasion,  stop- 
ping our  team,  I  counted  no  less  than  seventy  skulls  within 
a  circle  of  about  fifty  rods.  And  why  were  these  animals 
slaughtered  at  this  rate?  Not  for  the  meat,  neither  for 
their  hides,  but  just  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  struggle 
and  die.  When  will  the  sons  of  Adam  learn  to  pray: 
"  That  mercy  I  to  others  show,  that  mercy  show  to  me." 
During  the  warm  season,  these  buffalo  come  by  hundreds 
to  their  watering-places,  and  this  is  the  time  that  the  hunter 
takes  advantage  of  their  necessities.  What  a  shame,  to 
shoot  down  such  a  noble  animal  of  God's  creation,  just  for 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  it  kick  and  die! 

We  were  delighted,  however,  with  another  inhabitant  of 
the  plains,  and  very  well  able  were  they  to  take  care  of 
themselves.  They  are  not  as  large  as  the  deer,  and  yet 
they  outstrip  them  in  the  race.  If  I  mistake  not,  there  is 


*M~Z  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

no  work  of  the  Creator,  in  animal  form,  for  fleetness,  which 
comes  up  to  the  antelope.  No  swift- winged  bird  can  over- 
take him,  or  well-trained  "  iron  horse  "  can  keep  up  with 
him.  He  seems  peculiarly  constructed  to  distance  all  ani- 
mals in  his  flight,  and  laugh  at  man's  endeavor  to  capture 
him  as  his  game.  The  Indians,  however,  have  two  methods 
by  which  they  now  and  then  obtain  one,  and  both  of  these 
are  by  stratagem.  One  is  to  conceal  themselves  in  the 
grass  and  wave  a  red  handkerchief  suspended  to  a  stick  a 
few  feet  high.  Seeing  this,  they  approach  near,  curious  to 
know  what  it  is,  when  the  bullet  brings  him  down.  Another 
method  is  to  form  a  line  on  the  plains,  of  several  miles  in 
length,  with  their  swiftest  ponies,  then  one  or  two  drive  the 
herd  toward  the  line.  When  it  is  reached,  the  first  hunter 
on  his  pony  chases  him  to  the  second,  the  second  to  the 
third,  and  so  on,  until  the  last  hunter  is  reached,  when  the 
antelope  becomes  so  exhausted  that  he  falls  an  easy  prey. 
When  decoyed  by  the  first  method,  their  flesh  is  very  ten- 
der and  nice,  but  when  run  down — like  venison — it  loses  its 
peculiar  flavor.  Like  the  buffalo  and  the  Indian,  their 
march  is  westward,  and  in  a  few  more  years  they  will  belong 
only  to  the  history  of  the  past. 

To  the  traveler  passing  over  the  plains  for  the  first  time, 
the  prairie  dog  is  quite  a  curiosity,  but  two  or  three  days' 
acquaintance  removes  the  charm  of  interest,  and  we  think 
no  more  of  his  presence  than  of  the  birds  that  fly  over  our 
heads.  I  have  read  much  about  their  mechanical  genius 
in  laying  out  cities  in  proper  form  and  order,  but  in  all  of 
my  investigations  among  them  I  have  seen  no  exhibitions  of 
this  kind;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  if  such  evidences  of 
canine  skill  were  ever  witnessed,  it  must  have  been  about 
the  time  when  Indian  squaws  were  beautiful.  It  is  an 
interesting  sight,  however,  to  stand  in  their  presence  some 
bright  morning  and  hear  hundreds  barking  at  the  same  time, 
standing  like  the  squirrel  upon  their  hind  feet.  I  learned 
this  lesson  practically,  long  before  we  reached  Denver 


223 

City,  that  in  every  enterprise  of  life — however  promising — 
there  are  many  failures.  Frequently  on  our  way,  we  would 
meet  some  returning  home  with  downcast  looks  and  dis- 
couraging reports.  They  had  seen  the  elephant,  and  were 
satisfied.  One  covered  wagon  had  a  large  horn  pictured 
upon  its  side,  with  a  man's  head  coining  out  of  the  little 
end,  written  underneath:  "Coming  out  of  the  little  end  of 
the  horn."  I  was  very  forcibly  reminded  that  this  journey 
in  its  various  manifestations  was  but  a  type  of  the  successes 
and  reverses  of  human  life.  Some,  with  the  same  oppor- 
tunities, would  go  there  and  succeed,  whilst  others  would 
fail  and  return  home  empty-handed.  Another  fact  was 
forcibly  impressed  upon  my  mind,  that  this  was  a  real  ordeal 
to  test  the  value  of  human  character.  A  man  may  stand 
upright  and  appear  of  genuine  worth,  amidst  all  the  influ- 
ences and  restraints  of  church  and  home;  but  if  you  wish 
to  ascertain  the  real  elements  of  his  character,  take  him 
out  upon  the  plains  where  he  has  to  depend  upon  his  own 
resources;  then  if  he  acquits  himself  like  a  man,  you  need 
not  fear  to  trust  him  in  any  position  in  life.  What  a  prize 
it  is,  to  find  a  man  true  to  himself,  true  to  his  fellow-men, 
and  true  to  God  under1  all  circumstances  in  life. 

The  first  indication  to  us  that  we  were  approaching  the 
Rocky  mountains,  was  the  appearing  in  the  distance,  seem- 
ingly but  a  few  feet  above  the  horizon,  of  what  we  supposed 
to  be  a  "  thunder-head."  It  resembled  this,  nearer  than 
anything  else,  about  one  hundred  miles  distant,  and  as  we 
approached  nearer  and  still  nearer,  it  grew  higher  and 
wider.  "  Long's  Peak  "  is  the^r^  that  we  discover  of  the 
great  snowy  range,  and  at  that  time  this  was  numbered  the 
highest  among  the  peaks.  As  we  approached  within  thirty 
miles,  these  mountains  presented  the  grandest  sight  that  I 
ever  looked  upon.  At  this  distance  they  appear  to  be  only 
some  fifteen  miles  away,  owing,  probably,  to  two  causes:  their 
magnitude  and  the  clearness  of  the  air.  How  many  times  in 
approaching  them  did  I  stop  to  wonder,  admire  and  adore. 


^4  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

I  thought  that  if  these  were  but  the  outer  indications,  upon 
a  small  scale,  how  great  and  powerful  must  be  that  Beiny 
who  created  worlds  upon  the  top  of  worlds  innumerable.  I 
thought  of  Isaiah's  lofty  flights,  when  he  had  such  "  moun- 
tains in  scales,  and  the  hills  in  a  balance,"  and  I  did  not 
wonder  that  even  inspired  writers,  after  considering  the 
greatness  and  glory  of  God's  works,  should  be  constrained 
to  cry  out:  "What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him?" 
If  the  comparison  were  between  different  bulks  of  matter, 
we  might  hide  ourselves  behind  some  mountain-rock  as 
unworthy  of  notice,  and  be  tempted  to  think  that  in  the 
divine  estimate  we  should  be  entirely  forgotten.  But  when 
we  consider  that  one  human  being,  bearing  the  image  of 
God,  in  point  of  value  outweighs  worlds  of  matter,  and 
that  the  same  interest  is  taken  in  us  by  the  Supreme 
Being  as  though  we  -were  the  only  one  created;  taking  this 
view  of  the  subject,  rocks  and  mountains  may  stand  aside. 
What  imparts  a  grander  view  to  these  mountains  is  the 
relation  that  they  sustain  to  each  other:  rising  like  tower- 
ing steps  one  above  the  other,  until  you  reach  the  great 
snowy  range,  which  seems  to  look  down  from  its  superiority 
upon  them  all,  as  much  as  to  say: 

"  I  sit  a  queen  upon  this  pile, 
Look  down  upon  your  dust  and  smile; 
And  you  shall  own  my  lawful  sway 
'Till  rocks  and  mountains  melt  away." 

When  we  were  within  a  short  distance  from  Denver,  we 
were  overtaken  by  five  or  six  hundred  Shians  in  battle 
array,  on  their  way  to  fight  the  Utes  across  the  mountains. 
They  were  all  painted,  well  armed,  and  feathered  off  in  true 
Indian  style,  mounted  upon  their  ponies,  doubtless  intent 
upon  certain  victory.  Their  prophet,  or  medicine  man, 
gave  them  this  assurance  before  starting,  for  he  is  a  great 
man  among  them.  The  medicine  man,  they  think,  can  per- 
form wonders;  not  only  foretell  victories,  but  that  he  can 
control  the  elements.  We  have  a  scrap  of  history  right  in 


INDIAN     CELEBRATION GAMBLING.  225 

point.  In  a  severe  drouth  upon  the  plains,  the  tribe  blamed 
their  prophet,  inasmuch  as  he  controlled  the  winds  and 
rains,  for  suffering  such  a  calamity  to  come  upon  them. 
Such  was  the  pressure  that  he  saw  something  must  be  done 
or  he  would  lose  his  prestige  as  a  true  prophet.  So,  upon  a 
certain  day  he  made  a  great  display  of  "fire- works"  to  con- 
vince his  brethren  that  the  clouds  would  now  obey  his  call! 
Surely  enough,  the  next  day  there  came  a  thunder-storm, 
when  the  lightning  struck  a  wigwam  and  killed  two  or  three 
of  the  tribe.  Enraged  at  this,  he  was  arraigned  before  a 
council  of  Indians  for  permitting  such  a  sad  event  to  take 
place,  and  demanded  his  reasons  for  it.  In  his  defense  he 
stated  that  "  they  all  knew  that  the  medicine  was  a  very 
fine  thing,  but  in  that  instance  he  had  made  it  a  little  too 
strong"  This,  I  presume,  was  perfectly  satisfactory,  as  the 
writer  gives  us  no  further  particulars.  When  we  arrived  at 
Denver  City  we  found  that  these  warriors  had  left  their 
squaws  and  children  in  camp  at  that  place,  that  they  might 
be  secure  in  their  absence.  In  a  day  or  two  they  returned 
to  the  city,  having  secured  three  prisoners  and  a  large 
number  of  ponies.  The  next  night  after  they  arrived,  they 
burned  one  of  their  prisoners,  an  old  squaw,  and  such  a 
parade,  and  such  music  "  of  a  melancholy  sort,"  I  never  be- 
fore heard,  and  hope  never  to  hear  again.  It  was  a  kind  of 
mixture  of  the  horn,  tambourine,  piping  and  the  human 
voice.  I  suppose  that  this  was  a  kind  of  sacrificial  dirge  in 
celebrating  their  victory  over  the  Utes,  but  we  were  in- 
formed that  the  victory  was  on  the  other  side;  yet  this 
would  take  away  the  reproach  of  a  defeat.  This  sacrifice 
of  the  old  squaw  would  not  have  been  suffered  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Denver  had  they  known  it  beforehand.  The  other 
two  prisoners  were  boys  about  ten  years  of  age,  who  were 
purchased  by  the  whites  and  sent  on  to  the  city  of  Boston 
to  educate.  After  our  arrival  at  this  place,  we  pitched  our 
tents  for  a  few  days'  rest,  where  we  were  surrounded  by 
Indians,  male  and  female;  and  Pocahontas  had  no  de- 
16 


226  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

scendants  here,  I  am  sure,  or  she  would  have  taught  them 
better  manners  than  at  meal-time  to  catch  and  eat  the 
vermin  out  of  the  heads  of  their  own  children.  Here  was 
another  specimen  of  "  female  beauty  among  the  Shians  and 
Arrapahoes,"  and  such  was  its  influence  upon  our  remain- 
ing sensibilities,  that,  as  soon  as  possible,  we  placed  our- 
selves in  a  position  where  "distance  lends  enchantment  to 
the  view." 

The  city  of  Denver  at  this  date  (1860)  had  a  population 
of  about  five  thousand,  and  might  have  been  called  in  truth 
a  great  gambling  depot.  One  entire  street  was  set  apart 
for  that  particular  interest,  and  seemed  to  be  recognized  by 
its  citizens  as  any  other  branch  of  trade.  In  company  with 
a  friend,  a  resident  of  the  place,  I  visited  quite  a  number 
of  them  for  my  own  satisfaction.  Here  were  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  in  gold  piled  up  in  heaps  upon  their  tables, 
inviting  the  unwary  to  come  up  and  try  a  hand.  When  we 
wished  to  visit  the  postomce,  we  had  to  take  our  place  in 
the  rear  of  the  vast  crowd  pressing  up,  and  wait  sometimes 
from  one  to  two  hours  before  our  turn  came  in  regular  order. 
If  a  man  were  in  a  hurry,  and  had  plenty  of  money,  some- 
times he  would  buv  out  the  privilege  of  some  one  in  the  ad- 
vance and  change  places  with  him.  The  distance  between 
the  city  of  Denver  and  the  gate  into  the  mountains  proper 
is  twenty  miles.  Here  at  Golden  City  we  left  our  teams 
and  wagons  at  the  "  Correll  house,"  and  with  blankets  and 
provisions  on  our  backs,  we  started  in  to  survey  the  land  of 
gold. 


MISTAKEN     VIEWS  —  NEW     KNOWLEDGE.       227 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Before  reaching  Mountain  City,  some  twelve  thousand 
feet  above  the  level,  there  was  any  amount  of  puffing  and 
blowing,  especially  in  ascending  a  hill;  and  we  could  hardly 
tell  the  reason  why,  until  our  well-experienced  philosophers 
reminded  us  of  the  lightness  of  the  mountain  air  when 
compared  to  that  of  the  plains.  It  was  quite  amusing  to 
see  the  broad-shouldered,  thick-chested  stalwarts  plying 
their  lungs  for  more  oxygen,  when  the  stripling  passed  on 
his  way,  looking  back  and  laughing  over  their  imbecility. 
Upon  one  occasion  we  had  not  only  a  fair  test  of  the  powers 
of  endurance,  but  a  little  spice  to  cheer  up  the  mountain 
scenery.  Several  of  us,  of  different  sizes,  started  up  one 
of  those  mountains,  nearly  a  mile  in  height,  for  a  little  recre- 
ation. Being  of  medium  size,  sound  lungs,  and  naturally 
active,  I  had  a  little  ambition  not  to  be  outdone;  so  up  the 
mountain  I  made  my  way.  It  was  not  long  before  quite  a 
number  were  in  the  advance  of  me;  but  I  remembered 
"  Addison's  Hill  of  Science,"  of  school-boy  days — how 
Genius  made  a  failure  and  Application  gained  the  prize; 
and  so  I  toiled  on,  until  one  and  another,  and  another  had 
stopped  in  order  to  take  in  a  new  supply,  whilst  my  own 
was  not  yet  exhausted;  arid  whilst  they  were  replenishing, 
I  was  still  advancing,  until  I  saw  those  below  me,  who  had 
at  first  "derided  my  slow  and  toilsome  progress."  In  this 
ascent  I  was  much  assisted  by  an  occasional  rock  projecting 
from  the  surface;  and  when  this  was  reached,  after  hard 
toil  on  the  hill- side,  I  could  stand  secure  vth\\  firm  footing, 
when,  with  strength  renewed,  I  pushed  my  way  still  upward, 
where  another  rock  seemed  to  beckon  me  onward  to  its  sure 
support.  Not  only  in  this  way  did  I  gain  the  ascendant  of 
all  my  company,  but  it  furnished  me  facts  for  a  rich  and 
beautiful  application.  It  taught  me  this:  That  not  all  of 


228  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

those  who  start  out  upon  the  heavenly  way,  who  at  first  are 
the  most  promising  and  run  the  fastest,  in  the  end  are  the 
most  successful.  The  next  lesson  impressed  upon  my  mind 
was,  that  it  is  not  wisdom  in  any  important  enterprise  in 
this  life  to  exhaust  all  of  our  energies  in  the  first  setting 
out,  so  that  we  have  nothing  to  fall  back  upon,  and  thus 
create  a  necessity  for  flatting  out,  which  is  always  weaken- 
ing and  mortifying.  But  the  last  moral  furnished  from  this 
occasion  was  both  practical  and  spiritual,  as  well  as  beauti- 
ful and  sublime.  We  began  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  our 
advance  was  on  the  ascending  plane.  And  thus  it  is  with 
every  soul  that  treads  the  heavenly  way.  No  starting  half 
the  way  up  the  hill,  but  all  must  start  from  the  same  place; 
and  not  one  single  move  forward  from  this  point,  but  what 
elevates  the  character  and  dignifies  the  man.  Again,  the 
higher  our  ascent  the  wider  the  view  and  the  brighter  the 
prospect.  What  so  expands  the  mind  and  enlarges  our 
views  in  relation  to  all  that  is  beautiful  and  sublime,  as  a 
high  position  in  the  life  divine!  Let  the  love  of  the  Saviour 
fill  the  soul,  and  it  gives  a  moral  grandeur  to  all  of  our 
views,  and  an  enrapturing  delight  to  all  of  our  enjoyments. 
Finally,  in  our  ascending  progress  towards  heaven,  though 
attended  with  toil  and  danger,  our  weary  footsteps  often 
find  the  Rock,  upon  which  we  can  stand  and  feel  secure. 
And  oh,  what  a  comfort  it  is  to  us  to  know  that  the  most 
and  worst  of  the  ground  has  been  traveled  over — that  the 
last  difficulty  will  soon  be  surmounted;  and  then,  on  its 
summit,  we  will  raise  the  flag  of  victory,  with  this  inscpip- 
tion:  "The  battle  is  fought  and  the  victory  is  won." 

In  traveling  through  the  mountains,  I  expected  to  see  it 
teem  with  life — with  its  birds,  reptiles  and  insects;  but 
what  was  my  surprise,  that  no  warbler  was  to  be  heard,  no 
serpent's  trail  could  be  traced,  no  toad  nor  frog  disturbed 
the  pearly  waters,  nor  the  song  of  a  cricket  or  mosquito 
enlivened  the  passing  hours  of  the  night.  If  St.  Patrick 
had  ever  crossed  the  ocean,  with  his  long  pole,  we  would 


1)  O  W  £  R     OF     PRAYER. 

be  tempted  to  believe  that  he  visited  this  place  and  made 
a  clean  sweep.  The  first  Sabbath  after  leaving  the  plains 
we  attended  church  at  "  Methodist  Gulch,"  where  a  Brother 
Fisher  preached;  and  imagine  my  surprise,  when,  after  the 
sermon,  he  announced  my  appointment  for  the  ensuing 
Sunday.  We  remained  for  class,  including  eighty  persons, 
and  such  testimonies  exceeded  anything  I  had  ever  heard. 
Here  were  ministers,  exhorters,  stewards  and  old  class- 
leaders — a  host;  and  we  enjoyed  truly  a  mountain  feast. 
Having  selected  our  transient  home,  our  company  is  now 
composed  of  Brothers  Northup  and  Nims,  both  formerly 
members  of  my  charge  in  Maquoketa,  Iowa.  They  went  to 
work,  and  soon  we  had  a  cabin  "all  fitted  and  furnished." 
The  furnishing  part  was  easily  reached,  as  we  had  spruce 
boughs  for  a  broom,  spruce  boughs  for  our  bed,  and  our 
musk  was  mountain  spruce.  If  changed  into  verse  it  would 
read: 

il  Spruce,  roughly  hewn,  composed  the  floor. 
And  boards  of  spruce  made  up  the  door; 
Above,  below,  and  all  around, 
Could  not  one  slick  but  spruce  be  found." 

But  the  Sabbath  is  at  hand,  and  I  am  fifteen  miles  away 
from  my  appointment.  What  is  to  be  done?  I  have  no 
horse,  and  no  clothing  suitable  for  the  occasion,  as  I  left 
them  behind  at  Golden  City;  but  the  appointment  is  out 
and  I  must  fill  it.  So,  rising  quite  early,  I  started  through 
the  woods  for  my  place  of  destination,  and  precisely  at  the 
time  I  reached  the  log  chapel.  Brother  Fisher  met  me  near 
the  door  very  heartily,  when  I  asked  him  if  the  people 
would  receive  the  gospel  message  from  one  so  rough  as  I. 
Said  he:  "If  the  message  is  right,  they  will  not  see  your 
clothes;"  and  so  I  proceeded  to  the  work  before  me.  The 
house  was  not  only  filled,  but  the  yard  also,  when  I  an-  > 
nounced  for  my  text:  "  So  much  as  in  me  is,  I  am  ready  to  Y 
preach  the  gospel  to  you."  I  thought  then,  and  still  think, 
that  T  never  addressed  an  audience  that  more  fully  appre- 


230  THE     BATTLEFIELD     REVIEWED. 

elated  the  words  of  life.  Though  having  traveled  fifteen 
miles  that  morning,  I  preached  one  hour  without  weariness, 
and  if  the  congregation  were  as  much  blessed  in  hearing  as  I 
was  in  preaching,  the  hour  spent  was  not  in  vain.  The  most 
of  them  more  than  one  thousand  miles  from  home,  with  all  of 
its  interested  associations,  I  could  reach  many  tender  chords 
at  once.  After. the  audience  were  dismissed,  a  large  num- 
ber greeted  me  who  had  been  my  old  friends  in  the  state 
of  Iowa.  After  refreshments,  as  duty  called  me  home,  I 
returned,  happy  in  the  consciousness  that  I  had  been  abun- 
dantly rewarded  for  the  travel  of  thirty  miles  on  foot  through 
the  rocky  forests.  Our  mountain  home  was  on  "Gold  Dirt 
lode,"  fifteen  miles  from  Mountain  City,  with  the  great 
snowy  range  looking  down  upon  us.  Upon  this  lode  I  pur- 
chased two  claims  for  seventy-five  dollars,  in  which  my  part- 
ners were  to  share  equally  with  myself  in  the  profits  after 
the  purchase  money  was  repaid.  We  had  on  our  claim  a 
butcher's  shop,  in  which  we  were  peculiarly  favored,  and 
found  it  a  great  convenience.  Shortly  after  our  arrival,  a 
man  came  into  our  vicinity  and  started  a  saloon;  but  the 
miners  gave  him  twenty-four  hours  in  which  to  leave,  and 
he  improved  them  well.  Among  our  near  neighbors  was  the 
son  of  Dr.  Charles  Elliot,  so  well  known  in  the  history  of 
Methodism.  He  was  a  true  man,  and  such  elements  were 
appreciated  in  a  land  of  strangers.  Shortly  after  our  cabin 
was  built,  some  spruce  being  yet  left,  on  a  beautiful  emi- 
nence I  erected  a  "  bower  of  prayer,"  and  consecrated  it  to 
God.  And,  oh,  the  sacred  seasons  enjoyed  there!  In  the 
hours  of  devotion,  how  I  loved  to  sing,  as  I  often  did: 

"Sweet  bower,  where  the  pine  and  the  poplar  have  spread, 
And  waved  with  their  branches  a  roof  for  iny  head. 
How  oft  have  I  knelt  on  the  evergreen  there, 
And  poured  out  my  soul  to  my  Saviour  in  prayer. 

How  sweet  were  the  zephyrs  perfumed  by  the  pine, 
The  ivy,  the  balsam,  the  wild  eglantine; 
But  sweeter,  O  sweeter — superlative,  were 
The  joys  that  I  tasted  in  answer  to  prayer." 


HOME-SICKNESS  —  BREAD     MAKER.  231 

Among  the  numerous  causes  of  failure  far  from  home, 
there  is  one  depressing  genius  that  visits  nearly  all.  There 
is  no  head  so  gray,  nor  youth  so  sprightly  and  vigorous, 
but  that  he  pays  a  passing  tribute.  Upon  some,  it  is  true,  he 
confers  a  double  honor,  as  they  can  bear  it.  His  benefits 
are  quite  peculiar  in  one  respect,  and  similar  in  nearly  all 
cases — that  after  his  respectful  attendance,  his  subjects  are 
ashamed  of  his  character  and  personal  impositions.  Would 
you  know  his  name?  It  is  familiar  to  all.  "  Home-sick"  is 
the  familiar  name,  but  nothing  less  than  hope's  reaction 
reduced  to  reality.  Away  from  home,  left  to  depend  upon 
his  own  resources,  facing  now  the  practical  realities  of  life, 
fancy  and  imagination  take  their  leave,  and  there  is  nothing 
left  but  the  real.  And  now  past  pictures  of  former  friends 
and  home  rise  up  to  his  view,  and  he  longs  to  see  the  land 
he  left  behind.  Hardly  anything  makes  a  man  feel  more 
worthless  than  when  under  this  depressing  influence.  It 
undermines  his  courage,  warps  his  judgment,  and  makes 
the  man  a  child;  and  not  unfrequently,  before  you  are  aware, 
he  has  raised  the  flag  of  retreat,  and  with  hasty  step  is 
making  his  way  home.  The  only  remedy  for  home-sickness 
is  to  set  your  teeth,  stout  it  out,  until  the  fever  passes  off, 
when  in  a  short  time  a  healthy  reaction  will  take  place.  In 
this  respect  I  had  decidedly  the  advantage  of  my  company. 
The  "  world  "  being  my  "  parish,"  I  felt  as  much  at  home 
among  the  mountains,  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  as  on  my 
charge  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 

My  next  religious  season  was  the  regular  quarterly  meet- 
ing, when  Elder  Chivington  preached  to  a  large  multitude 
near  Mountain  City,  seated  on  the  hill-side.  Oh,  what  a 
scope  was  here  for  the  exercise  of  all  the  powers  of  the 
mind!  Poetry,  philosophy,  eloquence,  and  song  might 
have  gathered  inspiration  to  unfold  their  richness  upon  the 
one  hand,  and  to  have  sung  their  music  on  the  other.  We 
were  not  bordering  upon  Mount  Sinai  where  the  glory  sur- 
rounded Moses,  but  we  were  standing  upon  Mount  Zion — if 


232  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

not  with  harps  in  our  hands,  with  the  presence  of  our 
Saviour  in  our  midst,  and  the  accents  of  praise  upon  our 
lips;  and  from  this  distant  standpoint,  I  fancy  that  I  yet 
see  the  towering  cliffs,  the  stately  pines,  the  clear  atmos- 
phere, and  hear  the  stirring  songs,  all  uniting  together  and 
saying:  "  All  thy  works  shall  praise  thee,  O  Lord,  and  thy 
saints  shall  bless  thee."  The  Rocky  mountains  are  open- 
ing extensive  fields  for  missionary  operations,  and,  thank 
God!  our  men  are  upon  the  ground,  counseling  the  miners 
from  the  hill-tops  to  the  gulches  to  secure  the  "gold  tried 
in  the  fire,  that  they  may  become  rich;"  and  one  I  heard 
say  before  I  left,  that  "  the  richest  prospect  he  ever  struck 
in  the  mountains,  was  the  prospect  for  glory." 

Shortly  after  this  quarterly  meeting,  Elder  Chivington 
needing  a  supply  for  Denver,  came  up  to  our  cabin  and 
wished  me  to  fill  the  appointment  until  he  could  find  a  man 
for  the  place.  I  complied  with  his  request,  until  I  was 
released  by  a  minister  from  the  East  by  the  name  of  Allen, 
when  I  returned  again  to  our  mountain  home. 

During  my  absence  at  one  of  our  appointments,  in  com- 
pany with  Brother  Nims,  my  other  partner  remained  at 
home,  and  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  baking  his  own 
bread.  Not  being  a  practical  baker,  he  gave  it  such  a 
consistency  that,  when  he  took  it  out  of  the  pan,  it  would 
neither  cut,  break,  nor  twist;  and  being  a  little  doubtful 
whether  it  would  digest,  he  ventured  not,  but  in  full  bulk 
he  set  it  up  against  a  mountain  rock  that  it  might  be 
tempered  down  by  the  summer  rains.  When  we  returned 
home  from  the  meeting,  there  it  stood,  awaiting  the  soften- 
ing process,  and  though  the  rains  fell  and  the  dews  moist- 
ened, it  bent  not  its  back  and  bowed  not  its  head. 
The  next  quarterly  meeting  came  round,  but  the  loaf 
changed  not,  and  when  I  left  the  mountains  on  the 
first  day  of  October,  it  was  still  bidding  defiance  to  the 
storm  and  tempest.  How  long  after  this,  it  stood  a  monu- 
ment of  resistance,  I  cannot  say,  but  during  the  months 


AM  USING     MISTAKE.  233 

of  my  acquaintance  with  it,  for  durability  it  took  the  pre- 
mium. The  baker  never  let  me  into  the  secret  of  its  per- 
manence; but  he  is  still  living  in  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  and 
should  any  of  my  readers  have  use  for  such  an  article,  I 
can  recommend  his  as  genuine. 

In  one  or  two  instances  during  the  summer,  such  was  the 
interest  to  hear  the  gospel  that  the  people  sent  a  messen- 
ger a  distance  of  fifteen  miles  to  engage  me  to  give  them 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath.  It  was  quite  a  distance  to 
walk  (go  and  return)  thirty  miles  to  deliver  one  message, 
but  I  reasoned  that  if  they  felt  such  an  interest  to  hear  it, 
I  should  not  feel  less  to  deliver  it.  At  one  of  these  distant 
appointments  a  Brother  Williams,  from  Rock  Island,  was 
present.  He  was  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine  at  Daven- 
port, and  hearing  that  I  was  going  to  preach  in  the  gulch, 
came  some  distance  to  attend  service.  That  forenoon,  the 
brother  of  the  late  J.  V.  Watson  preached,  and  Brother 
Williams,  supposing  it  to  be  u  Landon  Taylor,"  was  seriously 
disappointed  and  mortified  to  think  that  his  old  ministerial 
friend  had  so  "  backslidden  in  the  mountains."  We  were 
invited  to  dinner  at  the  same  place,  when  the  brother- made 
known  to  me  his  painful  conviction,  still  laboring  under  the 
mistake  that  I  had  preached  in  the  morning.*  He  seemed 
to  think  it  a  great  pity  that  Methodist  ministers  of  long- 
standing could  not  come  to  this  land  of  gold  without  losing 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  intimating  that  among  the  last 
he  could  have  suspected  of  backsliding  was  his  old  minis- 
ter. I  received  the  reproof  from  him  very  kindly,  assuring 
him  that  even  good  men  were  not  always  alike  happy  in 
their  pulpit  efforts,  and  as  I  had  an  appointment  that  after- 
noon at  two  o'clock,  I  might  be  able  to  lessen  the  reproach. 
I  must  confess,  after  our  previous  talk,  that  I  had  a  little 
ambition  to  excel,  so  we  walked  over  together  to  the  ser- 
vice at  the  appointed  hour.  Having  come  down  from  the 


*This  mistake  arose  from  the  resemblance  in  our  persons — ten  years'  absence, 
and  his  error  as  to  the  hour  of  my  appointment. 


234  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

Nebo  of  expectation  in  the  morning,  the  ascent  now  was 
all  in  my  favor;  and  as  I  proceeded  in  my  discourse,  I  saw 
that  he  was  gathering  new  inspiration  under  a  mixture  of 
faith  and  surprise,  until  he  reached  a  point  where  suppres- 
sion was  no  longer  a  virtue,  and  he  praised  God  that  the 
gospel  of  Davenport  which  he  heard  ten  years  previous 
"  had  the  same  old  ring  in  the  gulches  and  on  the  moun- 
tains." By  this  time  Brother  Williams  had  learned  that  his 
criticisms  in  the  morning  were  without  edge,  and  presented 
me  an  approving  apology.  In  this  very  amusing  and  yet 
enjoyable  interview,  I  learned  the  value  of  Davy  Crocket's 
V  motto:  "Be  sure  that  you  are  right,  and  then  go  ahead!" 
On  my  return  home  from  this  meeting,  passing  through  the 
tall  forests,  and  by  the  side  of  the  pure  waters,  I  was  led 
to  admire  the  young  Indian's  valedictory  when  leaving 
college  to  visit  his  forest  home: 

"Let  me  go  to  ray  home  iu  the  far  distant  West, 
To  the  land  of  my  youth,  which  I  love  the  best. 
Where  the  tall  cedars  are  and  the  pure  waters  flow; 
To  my  home  in  the  forest,  white  man,  let  me  go." 

The  last  quarterly  meeting  that  I  attended  in  the  moun- 
tains was  but  a  short  time  previous  to  my  starting  home. 
In  the  quarterly  conference — some  of  whom  were  my  Iowa 
friends — they  proposed  to  the  elder  that  if  I  would  remain 
and  take  charge  of  the  work  that  I  need  preach  only  once 
every  Sabbath.  The  proffer  certainly  was  very  kind  and 
appreciative,  but  I  felt  that  my  work  was  not  yet  finished  in 
the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  among  those  dear  brethren 
where  I  had  toiled  and  gathered  sheaves  for  the  heavenly 
harvest,  from  pioneer  days  up  to  that  period;  and  so  I  had 
to  decline  the  honor.  But  the  rich  experiences  and  seasons 
of  Christian  fellowship  enjoyed  among  those  dear  friends, 
in  Nevada  and  other  kindred  places,  are  so  deeply  engraven 
upon  my  memory,  and  cherished  in  my  affections,  that  the 
hand  of  time  will  never  obliterate  them;  and  through  the 
coming  ages,  could  it  be  possible  that  some  intrusive  hand 


STEPS     DIRECTED PURSE     ENLARGED.       235 

should  proffer  to  blot  them  out,  I  would  say:  "  Stay  thy  pro- 
gress; let  these  memorials  stand,  accumulating  brightness 
with  the  history  of  future  experiences;  as  well  as  a  grateful 
tribute  to  my  divine  Lord  and  Master,  for  his  amazing  good- 
ness to  me  in  the  land  of  gold."  Having  decided  to  start  for 
Maquoketa  about  the  first  of  October,  and  the  time  now  draw- 
ing nigh,  I  looked  for  some  providential  door  to  open  that  I 
might  dispose  of  my  interest  in  our  claims.  T  had  not  the 
least  doubt  but  that  if  it  was  my  duty  to  return  to  my  con- 
ference, a  wise  Providence  would  open  and  prepare  the 
way.  Whilst  waiting  this  opening,  surely  enough,  Mr. 
Elliot  came  to  me  one  morning,  proposed  to  buy  me  out,  and 
within  ton  minutes  the  sale  was  consummated;  which,  after 
paying  all  expenses,  left  me  about  five  hundred  dollars  for 
my  summer's  trip.  This  I  considered  extra,  as  I  had  cal- 
culated that  if  I  returned  home  with  renewed  health  and 
vigor,  I  should  be  well  paid;  but  in  this  case — like  Solo- 
mon asking  for  wisdom  and  understanding,  when  the  Lord 
added  the  rest — I  was  enabled  to  praise  God  for  renewed 
physical  strength,  and  he  "  had  doubled  all  my  store."  And 
this  was  not  all.  I  had  gathered  upon  my  journey  and  in  my 
short  stay  so  many  interesting  items  of  history  that  these 
would  have  squared  the  bill  of  outlays  without  anything 
beyond;  but  when  these  three  Items  were  added  together, 
and  grace  crowning  them  all,  I  felt  to  say:  "Thou  hast 
increased  my  greatness,  and  comforted  me  on  every 
side." 

When  reaching  Denver  City,  after  leaving  the  mountains 
on  my  return  home,  I  found  Mr.  House,  who  had  been  one 
of  our  company  out,  and  arranged  with  him  to  convey  me 
to  my  adopted  state.  This  was  very  pleasant,  enjoying  the 
company  of  an  old  friend;  so,  on  the  first  day  of  October, 
1860,  we  started  upon  our  journey  home,  a  distance  of  one 
thousand  miles.  In  taking  a  farewell  of  our  mountain 
home  and  my  friends  I  left  behind,  nothing  came 
with  tenderer  sadness  to  my  heart  than  my  bower 


236  THE     B  A  T  T  T,  E     P  I  E  L  I)     REVIEWED. 

of  prayer.       Truly    I    ielt    all    that   is  expressed  in   these 
lines: 

"  Dear  bovver,  I  must  leave  thee,  and  bid  thee  adieu. 
And  pay  my  devotion  in  parts  which  are  new, 
Well  knowing  my  Saviour  is  found  everywhere, 

And  can  in  all  place*  give  answer  to  prayer." 

The  weather  was  unusually  pleasant  as  we  started  from 
Denver,  and  remained  so  during  the  entire  month.  We 
arranged  in  our  travel  to  arise  at  three  o'clock  A.  M.,  start 
out  at  four,  and  stop  at  five  P.  M.  This  gave  us  twelve 
hours'  travel,  and  time  to  rest.  In  adopting  this  rule  our 
team  remained  fresh  and  vigorous,  and  averaged  forty  miles 
every  day.  In  our  company  was  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Green,  who  had  passed  the  summer  in  the  mines,  and  had 
saved  about  enough  to  pay  his  way  home.  On  our  way,  we 
called  a  few  minutes  at  one  of  those  so-called  ranches — 
truthfully,  gambling  shops — when,  everything  being  "well 
cut  and  dried,"  they  induced  Mr.  Green  to  try  his  hand  at 
"  three-card  monte."  His  last  ten  dollars  were  taken  from 
him  in  a  moment,  which  left  him  almost  penniless,  and  he  far 
distant  from  home.  Our  sympathies  were  not  very  deep  in 
his  case,  as  we  had  cautioned  him  to  beware  of  such  sharp- 
ers. He  continued  with  us  for  some  days,  and  then  left  us, 
as  best  he  could  to  pursue  his  way;  but  we  could  not  forget 
his  name — Green. 

Upon  our  return  trip,  we  saw  what  I  had  never  before 
seen.  There  were  three  spots  upon  the  sun's  surface,  appa- 
rently as  large  as  a  silver  dollar,  which  remained  for  several 
days.  The  weather — a,  little  smoky,  and  the  face  of  the 
sun  quite  red,  we  had  a  distinct  view.  Whether  this  phe- 
nomenon was  confined  to  the  plains  or  not,  I  am  unable  to 
decide;  but  to  us  it  was  a  new  thing — not  under,  but  upon 
the  sun,  and  of  much  interest.  I  had  another  new  expe- 
rience. Whilst  in  the  mountains,  owing  to  the  want  of 
oxygen,  if  any  difference,  I  lost,  rather  than  gained  in  flesh; 
but  now  upon  this  return  T  averaged  nearly  one  pound 


T  R  I  15  U  T  E     TO     BROTHER     K  E  N  D  I  G  .  "Z37 

increase  each  day  for  thirty  days.  In  approaching  Iowa, 
when  sufficiently  near  to  discover  the  distant  bluffs  and 
groves,  a  very  pleasing  sensation  was  produced.  Though 
absent  but  a  few  months,  there  came  a  rush  in  connection 
with  all  the  endearments  of  home.  Here  before  me  was 
my  adopted  state;  the  land  that  I  loved;  the  history  which 
I  had  made,  and  the  strong  friendships  formed  and  long 
cherished;  and  here  T  am,  about  to  enter  into  the  same 
fields  and  re-enjoy  like  precious  seasons  of  communion.  In 
such  a  position  as  this,  what  reflective  mind  cannot  enjoy 
this  poetic  sentiment: 

/  "  You  may  value  the  friendships  of  youth  and  of  age, 
/      A.nd  select  for  your  comrades  the  noble  and  sage, 
I      But  the  friends  that  most  cheer  me  on  life's  rugged  road 
*      Are  the  friends  of  my  Master — the  children  of  God." 

Filled  with  such  emotions,  I  was  not  at  all  surprised  that 
the  army  under  Xenophon,  when  they  came  in  sight  of 
familial-  scenes  upon  their  return  home,  should  cry  out 
'•''The  sea!  the  sea!"  And  then,  how  natural  in  such  expe- 
riences to  look  away  from  earth,  to  the  time  when  we  shall 
catch  t\\&ji)'$t  view  of  the  celestial  fields — ever  green — and 
the  flowers  ever-blooming;  and  as  we  approach  the  immor- 
tal shores,  to  see  the  signal -flag  hung  out  to  welcome  us  to 
our  eternal  home.  Will  it  not  be  joyful  and  transporting? 

I  was  not  in  the  least  disappointed,  after  reaching  Iowa, 
in  the  kind  reception  meeting  me  upon  every  hand.  As 
we  put  up  for  the  Sabbath  at  Brooklyn,  I  went  out  in  the 
morning  to  preaching,  not  knowing  who  was  the  pastor  of 
the  charge.  I  soon  found  that  it  was  Brother  Wilson. 
After  he  had  started  out  in  his  sermon,  I  was  discovered, 
and  I  saw  that  he  was  evidently  embarrassed;  so  much  so, 
that  he  called  me  out.  I  requested  him  to  finish  his  ser- 
mon, when  I  had  a  very  favorable  opportunity  for  improve- 
ment. His  father's  funeral  sermon  I  had  preached  when 
he  was  but  a  boy;  the  family  home  was  one  of  my  stopping- 
places  fifteen  years  previous,  and  in  that  time  he  had  grown 


238  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

up,  and  was  now  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  These  were  among 
the  references  made  in  closing  after  him,  and  for  one  I 
enjoyed  the  surprise  richly.  In  the  afternoon  I  went  with 
him  to  one  of  his  appointments  and  preached  for  him,  and 
renewed  a  friendship  which  will  last  forever.  This  Sunday 
evening  was  the  first,  since  I  left  Maquoketa,  that  I  had 
slept  in  a  confined  room,  and  it  was  attended  with  embar- 
rassment. I  had  read  of  such  experiences  in  the  history  of 
travelers,  but  never  kne*w  it  practically  until  now.  The 
contrast  was  such  between  tenting  in  the  open  air,  and  that 
of  confinement  in  a  close  room,  that  I  seemed  at  a  loss  for 
an  element  to  breathe.  The  following  week  we  arrived  at 
Maquoketa,  my  old  charge,  where  welcomes  and  salutations 
to  me  were  of  more  value  than  my  Rocky  mountain  gold. 
My  friends  were  not  apprised  of  my  approach,  until  I 
entered  the  Methodist  church  at  the  hour  of  lovefeast,  where 
I  had  the  opportunity  of  telling  them  that  through  all  the 
opposing  influences  which  had  attended  my  campaign,  "  I 
had  been  kept  by  power  divine,"  and  stood  before  them 
in  the  freedom  of  spiritual  life.  The  next  week  I  had  the 
privilege  of  voting  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  president  of 
the  United  States,  which  I  had  included  in  our  hurried 
journey  across  the  plains.  Brother  Kendig  was  now  in 
charge  of  Maquoketa  station,  and  was  a  very  faithful  and 
efficient  pastor  during  the  year.  He  was  elected  chaplain 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  occupied  this  position 
among  the  Iowa  boys  during  the  memorable  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge,  in  Arkansas.  After  a  term  of  service  he  returned 
to  his  pastoral  work  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  where 
he  continued  very  successful  until  he  was  transferred  to 
New  England,  and  is  now  stationed  in  the  city  of  Boston. 
Brother  Kendig,  everywhere,  is  the  same  untiring  laborer, 
and  success  attends  him  wherever  he  is  stationed.  In  the 
very  honorable  position  which  he  now  holds  as  a  Christian 
minister,  we  have  a  most  striking  example  as  to  what  a  man 
may  become  by  untiring  perseverance  in  the  cause  of 


IOWA     CITY "WOULD     NOT     DIE."  239 

Christ.  After  spending  a  few  weeks  very  pleasantly  in 
visiting  my  friends,  I  was  appointed  to  a  new  and  interest- 
ing field  of  labor,  which  will  be  embraced  in  our  next 
chapter. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

My  last  chapter  finished  up  my  Rocky  mountain  history. 
As  I  had  written  to  my  presiding  elder,  whilst  there,  to 
release  me  from  active  labor  another  year,  at  our  annual 
conference  at  Dubuque  I  was  left  without  an  appointment. 
But  upon  my  return,  my  health  had  so  much  improved 
that  I  was  ready  upon  the  first  opening.  I  did  not  have 
long,  to  wait.  Rev.  E.  C.  Byam,  who  had  been  stationed  at 
Iowa  City,  having  been  appointed  state  agent  of  the 
"American  Bible  Society,"  left  the  charge  vacant,  when  I 
was  selected  to  fill  the  place.  I  was  well  aware  that  such 
changes — as  a  rule — were  not  verv  favorable  to  the  suc- 
cessor; but  as  the  request  was  unanimous  by  the  official 
board,  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  work  assigned  me.  I 
entered  upon  it  the  more  cheerfully,  inasmuch  as  I  was 
aware  that  my  church  associations  would  be  of  the  most 
agreeable  kind.  Here  was  Brother  Spencer,  president  of 
the  Iowa  State  university,  a  man  that  would  do  honor  to 
almost  any  station.  Here,  also,  was  Rev.  Alcinous  Young 
and  family,  with  whom  I  had  lived  for  two  years  in  the 
city  of  Davenport;  also  Brother  A.  Hart,  a  local  preacher, 
with  whom  I  had  formed  a  pleasant  acquaintance;  so  that 
my  introduction  was  like  going  home.  My  reception  was 
all  that  I  could  have  desired.  Within  a  few  weeks  the 
parsonage  was  all  fitted  up,  Brother  Mandeville,  a  local 
preacher,  and  wife  were  engaged  to  occupy  it,  and  with 
them  I  passed  a  very  pleasant  year. 

Brother  Mandeville  was  subject,  quite  frequently,  to 
seasons  of  mental  depression,  popularly  called  "  the  blues" 


240  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

and  it  was  quite  amusing,  sometimes,  to  see  how  easily  the 
remedy  could  be  applied.  .Whenever  I  found  him  in  this 
mood,  I  would  manage  in  some  way  to  raise  a  good  he«rty 
laugh,  and  in  no  one  instance  did  I  fail  to  produce  a  reac- 
tion where  the  laugh  was  a  success.  It  reminded  me  some- 
what of  David's  music  driving  the  evil  spirit  away  from 
the  person  of  Saul.  Though  in  this  process  of  mental 
relief  I  did  not  herald  the  object  in  view;  had  I  done  this, 
the  remedy  might  not  have  proved  so  effectual.  From  this 
amusing  experience  I  was  brought  to  this  conviction:  that 
very  many  of  the  sad  and  gloomy  hours  in  this  life  are  the 
result  of  looking  at  ourselves — of  pondering  over  our  own 
ills — until  we  imagine  that  our  case  is  desperate.  In  this 
state  of  mental  gloom,  could  we  be  induced  to  leave  our 
melancholy  reflections  and  launch  out  into  new  fields  of 
thought,  or  take  lessons  in  the  school  of  cheerfulness,  sanc- 
tified by  faith  and  prayer,  this  depressing  genius  would 
find  a  welcome  home  somewhere  else.  Some  of  my  readers 
may  have  read  the  history  of  Rev.  John  Smith,  a  Wesleyan 
minister  of  England,  whose  companion  was  seriously 
afflicted  iii  this  way.  At  times  she  imagined  that  she  was 
about  to  die,  and  would  say  to  him:  "Johnny,  I'm  going 
to  leave  you  this  time  certain,  and  you  must  do  the  best 
you  can  when  I  am  gone."  This  declaration  was  repeated 
again  and  again,  with  greater  assurance,  until  his  sleep  was 
seriously  disturbed.  At  the  worst  stages,  he  concluded  to 
try  an  experiment,  to  see  if  he  could  riot  break  the  spell. 
So  the  next  time  the  delusion  came  on,  when  she  asserted 
that  her  time  had  come,  instead  of  pity  and  sympathy,  as 
usual,  he  began  to  praise  God  that  "  Maggie  was  about  to 
get  rid  of  her  troubles  at  last  by  going  home;"  and  the 
more  she  asserted  it,  the  happier  he  seemed  to  get;  bless- 
ing the  Lord  for  the  happy  exchange.  This  was  more  than 
she  could  bear — shouting  over  her  departure;  when  she 
became  very  angry,  and  declared  she  "  wouldn't  die  any- 
how, that  he  could  not  get  rid  of  her  that  easy;"  and  right 


TRIBUTE     TO     REV.     ALCINOUS     YOUNG.         241 

here  the  evil  genius  left,  and  this  was  the  last  of  this  expe- 
rience during  life.  This  is  an  extreme  case,  it  is  true,  and 
yet  it  furnishes  us  the  groundwork  as  well  as  the  remedy 
for  many  of  the  same  class.  I  suppose  that  musicians  call 
the  above  a  kind  of  interlude,  and  so  I  will  return  to 
personal  history. 

Rev.  Alcinous  Young  was  a  minister  of  such  prominence 
that  this  is  the  appropriate  time  to  pay  a  proper  tribute. 
He  joined  the  Pittsburg  conference  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1828,  when  having  served  the  church  faithfully  for  seven- 
teen years,  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Iowa — then  a  territory — in  the  spring  of  1846.  He  united 
with  the  Iowa  conference  at  its  first  session  in  Muscatine, 
and  labored  with  us  about  thirteen  years;  then  took  a  super- 
annuated relation,  which  he  sustained  to  the  conference 
until  March  30,  1876,  when  he  left  the  world  of  labor  for 
one  of  rest  and  reward.  His  end  was  triumphant.*  Brother 
Young  was  a  man  to  be  trusted.  Perhaps  few  men  in  the 
ministry  of  our  church  applied  themselves  more  diligently 
to  the  work  in  hand  than  he.  Especially  was  this  the  case 
in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  and  thus  he  secured  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  God's  Word.  He  was  a  good  thinker,  a 
sound  preacher,  and  a  successful  debater;  and  at  times  his 
discourses  were  accompanied  with  great  spiritual  power, 
and  gracious  revivals  attended  his  labors.  Being  a  mem- 
ber of  his  family  for  two  years,  I  had  the  very  best 
opportunity  of  learning  the  striking  traits  in  his  character; 
and  whilst  he  was  not  free  from  the  infirmities  of  his  breth- 
ren, I  am  happy  to  state  that  he  was  a  true  Christian  minis- 
ter. When  residing  at  Davenport,  he  gave  me  two  or  three 
remarkable  cases  of  history  connected  with  his  labors  which 
should  not  be  lost. 

He  had  been  stationed  at  Wellsburg,  Pa.,  and  what  was 
unusual  in  his  history,  the  entire  year  passed  away  without 
any  revival  of  religion.  Upon  his  return  the  second  year 

*  Me  died  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Hon.  J.  B.  Younsj,  in  Marion,  Iowa. 

17 


242  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

he  was  very  much  discouraged.  The  first  Sabbath  after  his 
return,  he  made  from  his  pulpit  the  bold  declaration  "That 
no  man,  sincerely  inquiring  for  light,  could  read  the  Bible 
and  pray  in  secret  earnestly  and  sincerely  for  guidance 
three  times  a  day  for  two  weeks,  and  not  at  the  end  of  that 
time  experience  a  change  in  his  views  and  feelings  upon 
the  subject  of  religion."  A  young  man,  president  of  the 
infidel  club,  and  two  other  members,  agreed  to  try  the  plan, 
as  Brother  Young  had  promised  to  make  a  public  exposition 
of  the  matter  from  his  pulpit,  in  case  such  effort  was  made 
and  proved  unsuccessful.  Two  weeks  rolled  round,  and 
neither  of  the  young  men  had  read  the  Bible  or  prayed  in 
secret  during  that  time.  They  were  resolved,  however,  to 
have  some  fun  at  the  minister's  expense,  and  accordingly 
agreed  to  tell  him  that  they  had  complied  with  the  terms 
of  his  proposition  in  every  respect,  but  had  experienced  no 
change  in  their  religious  views  and  feelings.  They  started 
for  the  parsonage,  but  on  their  way  two  of  them  suggested 
that  "they  ought  first  to  have  complied  with  the  terms  pro- 
posed, and  that  to  go  to  the  pastor  with  lies  in  their  mouths 
would  be  so  dishonorable  they  would  go  no  further."  The 
president  of  the  club  said  that  "  he  would  see  the  fun  out," 
and  proceeded  to  the  house.  He  knocked  at  the  door,  and 
in  a  moment  was  seated  in  the  family  circle.  He  seemed  to 
be  greatly  agitated,  and  remarked  that  he  wanted  a  few 
minutes  private  conversation.  The  children  were  sent  into 
an  adjoining  room,  when  he  asked  Brother  Young  to  pray 
for  him.  A  chapter  of  the  Bible  was  read  and  earnest 
prayer  offered.  When  he  rose  from  his  knees  he  told  the 
minister  of  all  that  had  occurred,  and  said:  "When  I 
knocked  at  your  door,  God  knocked  at  my  heart."  That 
was  the  commencement  of  the  greatest  religious  awakening 
known  in  Wellsburg.  The  young  man  above  referred  to 
afterward  became  a  faithful  missionary  of  the  Cross.  Hon. 
J.  B.  Young,  son  of  the  elder,  now  residing  in  Marion,  Iowa, 
by  my  request,  gives  me  the  above  facts,  which  correspond 


ATTEMPT  TO  RUIN  CHARACTER.        243 

with  the  statements  made  by  the  father  to  the  writer  when 
I  resided  in  his  family  at  Davenport,  in  1852. 

Another  fact,  still  more  remarkable,  which  goes  to  prove 
that  Christ  will  defend  his  own.  A  young  minister  made 
it  his  home  on  his  charge  at  the  residence  of  one  of  his 
stewards.  One  of  the  family,  a  young  man,  by  some  means 
took  offense  at  the  minister  and  determined  on  revenge. 
So,  as  he  was  about  to  start  to  one  of  his  appointments,  the 
young  man  slipped  into  his  saddle-bags  quite  a  number  of 
bank  bills,  unperceived,  and  when  the  minister  left,  pre- 
tended to  have  missed  his  money,  laid  it  upon  the  preacher, 
and  finally  had  him  arrested.  He  was  soon  overtaken  by 
the  officer  of  justice,  when  he,  in  conscious  innocence,  de- 
livered up  his  saddle-bags  to  be  searched.  What  was  the 
minister's  surprise  when  the  amount  of  money,  as  described 
by  the  young  man,  was  taken  out  from  among  his  books! 
Of  course  here  seemed  proof  positive  of  the  crime  of  theft, 
and  the  result  was  a  trial  before  a  committee  of  ministers, 
and  he  was  expelled  from  the  church.  He  received  his 
sentence  of  expulsion  very  meekly,  attesting  his  innocence, 
but  stated  to  them:  "  In  less  than  one  year,  the  Divine 
Master  whom  I  serve  will  vindicate  my  character,  and  you 
will  know  that  I  am  an  innocent  man."  Was  the  prediction 
fulfilled?  Within  this  time  the  young  man  who  preferred 
the  charge  was  taken  sick,  and  his  attendants  said  lie  must 
die.  He  begged  for  life,  and  said  he  " could  not  die"  and 
finally  requested  this  expelled  minister  to  be  sent  for.  He 
came;  when,  in  the  presence  of  witnesses,  he  confessed  his 
crime,  asked  the  pardon  and  forgiveness  of  his  injured  min- 
ister, when  the  Lord,  in  mercy,  prolonged  his  life.  But 
what  of  the  expelled  preacher?  It  is  easy  to  imagine.  He 
was  at  once  restored  to  his  former  position,  and  such  a  wave 
of  honor  rolled  back  upon  him  that  it  was  almost  over- 
whelming; and  through  all  of  his  future  days,,  he  remem- 
bered, with  grateful  heart,  that  hour  in  which  his  faith 
found  expression  in  these  words:  "  The  Divine  Master 


244  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

' 

whom  I  serve  will  vindicate  my  character."  What  a  losing 
business  it  is  to  fight  against  God.  Whilst  that  youthful 
evangelist  rose  so  much  the  higher  when  his  fidelity  was 
revealed,  the  stain  left  upon  that  young  man's  character, 
by  this  revengeful  act,  could  never  be  wiped  out.  It  would 
follow  him  as  a  part  of  his  earthly  history  through  all  time, 
and  unless  erased  by  a  divine  hand,  continue  in  the  records 
of  eternity. 

This  charge  to  which  I  was  appointed  pastor  this  year 
(1860-61),  in  some  respects  was  the  most  eventful  in  my 
history.  During  my  pastorate,  that  terrible  war  of  the  re- 
bellion had  its  commencement.  Such  was  the  disturbed 
state  of  the  public  mind,  for  months  previous  to  its  con- 
summation, that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  interest  the 
people  upon  any  other  subject.  The  pastors  united  in  their 
efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion,  but  the  Southern 
war  cloud  seemed  to  cast  a  shade  over  all  of  our  spiritual 
prospects.  Whilst  these  meetings  were  in  progress,  the 
tidings  came  from  day  to  day  of  the  secession  of  state  after 
state  from  the  Union.  Such  a  state  of  things  was  not  very 
favorable  to  the  promotion  of  our  work,  as  it  betokened 
the  fearful  calamity  which  was  just  at  hand.  The  day  that 
the  news  flashed  over  the  wires  that  Fort  Sumter  had  been 
fired  upon,  was  one  of  the  greatest  excitement  in  Iowa  City 
that  I  ever  witnessed.  From  street  to  street  people  were 
running  as  out  of  breath,  spreading  the  panic  to  a  still 
higher  pitch,  and  the  military  calling  to  arms  all  that  would 
volunteer.  Within  a  very  short  time  we  had  two  companies 
formed  and  ready  to  go  out  in  the  defense  of  the  "Stars 
and  Stripes."  This  drew  quite  heavily  upon  our  church, 
inasmuch  as  a  large  proportion  belonged  to  the  station. 
The  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  being 
loyal  to  the  government,  with  few  exceptions,  contributed 
its  full  share  in  maintaining  our  national  existence.  She 
gave  over  one  hundred  thousand  brave  soldiers  during  the 
war  for  the  defense  of  our  republic,  and  the  first  soldiers 


PARTING     OP     MOTHER     AND    SON.  245 

that  fell  in  their  country's  cause  were  members  of  the  \ 
Methodist  church.  The  military  field  has  been  so  largely 
occupied  by  able  historians  that  but  a  mere  glance  can  be 
expected  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  but  I  am  fully  persuaded 
that  the  generation  who  lived  to  witness  that  rebellion,  and 
the  soldiers  who  fought  so  bravely  to  conquer  it,  lived  in 
one  of  the  most  eventful  periods  of  the  world's  history,  and 
were  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  important  conflicts  of 
any  age.  Embracing  the  glorious  results  attending  the 
freeing  of  a  race  in  bondage,  their  education  and  eleva- 
tion to  Christian  principles,  the  reflective  influence  of  this 
great  nation  upon  other  lands  and  governments  in  their 
coming  history  is  without  a  parallel  in  the  records  of  time. 
For  the  space  of  two  or  three  months,  as  our  city  was  a 
kind  of  military  camp,  we  were  favored  with  all  the  para- 
phernalia of  war;  but  the  time  came  when  music  and  drill 
found  a  practical  reality  on  the  battle-grounds  of  Wilson's 
Creek  and  Pea  Ridge.  There  is  a  vast  difference  between 
the  honors  conferred  in  preparing,  and  the  solid  realities  in 
fighting  and  marching.  But  the  one  contributes  to  lighten 
the  other.  Oh,  what  &  power  there  is  to  inspire  courage  and  en- 
durance in  the  hardships  of  war,  in  the  thought  that  interested 
friends  at  home  are  praying  and  expecting  that  my  record 
will  be  crowned  with  honor!  and  my  return  home  will  be 
welcomed  the  more  for  my  virtue  and  fidelity  in  the  testing 
hour.  Brother  Nobles  gave  me  an  account  of  a  touching 
scene  in  the  cars,  as  a  regiment  was  about  leaving  for  Mis- 
souri. The  trains  were  in  waiting,  when  there  came  in  a 
venerable-looking  couple  in  search  of  their  son  just  starting 
South.  He  was  sitting  a  short  distance  from  him,  when 
the  aged  parents  came  up  to  give  their  last  blessing  before 
starting.  "  Well,  Jake,"  said  the  mother,  "you  are  about 
to  leave  us  to  go  to  fight  for  the  Union.  It  is  hard  to  give 
you  up,  my  boy;  but  remember  you  go  in  a  good  cause,  to 
save  your  country.  And  now  I  have  this  to  say  to  you, 
Jake,  before  you  start — don't  disgrace  dad  and  /."  With 


24G  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

these  parting  words,  and  a  mother's  kiss,  the  venerable 
parents  left  the  cars,  whilst  the  son  was  bathed  in  tears. 
How  I  thought  of  the  power  of  those  few  words  from  that 
mother  during  his  entire  campaign.  When  in  his  long 
wearisome  marches,  sleeping  on  the  cold,  damp  ground, 
and  encountering  the  chilling  storms,  the  mother's  words, 
"Jake,  don't  disgrace  dad  and  I,"  sounded  to  him  like 
clarion  notes  above  the  storm,  and  inspired  him  with  courage 
afresh.  And  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  when  the  wounded 
and  dying  were  all  around  him,  and  death  facing  him,  the 
words  of  that  mother,  like  an  inspiring  angel,  came  to  his 
rescue,  and  led  him  on  to  nobler  deeds  of  valor.  And  when 
his  term  expired,  and  once  more  he  returned  to  his  family 
dwelling,  what  a  scroll  of  honor  to  hand  over  to  his  over- 
joyed parents:  "I  have  honored  my  station." 

A  short  time  previous  to  our  "  Boys  in  Blue  "  starting  to 
the  seat  of  war,  we  had  an  interesting  sermon  preached  to 
them  in  our  church  by  President  Spencer;  at  the  close  of 
which  I  presented  to  each  one  a  copy  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, with  appropriate  remarks,  and  commended  them  to 
the  God  of  all  grace.  It  was  one  of  the  most  touching 
scenes  that  I  ever  witnessed,  to  see  hundreds  of  soldiers 
leaving  for  the  bloody  fields  of  war,  taking,  many  of  them, 
a  last  farewell  of  the  friends  and  relatives  they  were 
leaving  behind.  What  a  stigma  is  this  to  a  Christian  nation — 
the  more  it  is  considered,  the  more  revolting  it  looks, — to 
settle  difficulties  with  the  price  of  blood!  And  the  party 
which  is  the  most  successful  in  the  work  of  slaughter  and 
suffering  is  considered  the  one  entitled  to  the  greatest 
honor.  What  a  comment  upon  enlightened  humanity,  and 
what  a  crown  of  honor  upon  the  gospel  of  peace!  It  is  a 
species  of  barbarism  befitting  the  darkest  days  of  the  world, 
and  bears  no  relation  to  the  Light  of  life  and  the  Prince  of 
peace.  And  yet,  when  a  nation's  life  is  endangered  by 
its  enemies,  this  seems,  at  the  present,  the  only  remedy. 
As  unpleasant  as  it  is,  I  must  here  record  the  sketch  of  a 


- 


SUICIDE. 


247 


young  man  who  came  to  Iowa  about  this  period.  Mr.  G. 
was  born  and  educated  not  far  from  the  city  of  Auburn,  in 
the  state  of  New  York.  He  was  of  Methodist  parentage. 
Being  in  good  circumstances,  and  the  only  son,  they  spared 
no  pains  to  qualify  him  to  fill  the  first  positions  in  society. 
He  gradually  rose  in  their  confidence,  graduated  with 
honor,  and  became  county  superintendent  of  public  schools. 
At  the  close  of  his  term,  being  a  young  man  of  enterprise, 
he  concluded  to  come  West.  Two  years  previous  to  this 
date  (1861),  he  arrived  in  Iowa  City  and  applied  for  a  posi- 
tion in  the  State  university  as  teacher.  There  being  no 
vacancy  at  this  time,  he  concluded  to  go  to  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  hoping  that  some  door  might  be  opened  which  he 
could  enter,  suitable  to  his  qualifications  and  tastes.  Not 
meeting  with  such  opportunity  at  once,  and  being  unfortu- 
nately thrown  into  the  society  of  the  dissipated,  within  a 
short  time  he  gave  himself  to  drink  and  to  gambling,  and 
within  a  few  months  the  last  dollar  out  of  eighteen  hundred 
which  he  brought  with  him  was  gambled  away.  Here  he 
was,  among  strangers,  without  money  or  credit,  and,  I  might 
add,  without  friends,  for  gambling  friendship  ceases  when 
the  purse  is  empty.  Ashamed  to  write  home  to  let  his 
hopeful  parents  know  how  he  had  disgraced  himself,  he 
made  every  shift  and  turn  to  pay  his  way.  In  this  pitiable 
condition,  character,  money  and  manhood  gone,  he  found 
his  way  back  to  Iowa  City,  and  at  this  date  was  tending  a 
saloon  for  his  board,  among  the  Germans  of  the  place.  One 
beautiful  morning  of  spring,  a  messenger  came  running  up 
to  the  parsonage,  and  wished  me  to  go  with  him  quickly,  as 
some  man  had  just  committed  suicide  in  one  of  the  saloons. 
I  went  in  haste,  and  such  a  spectacle  I  never  saw  before: 
Lying  flat  upon  his  back,  his  person  and  the  floor  covered 
with  blood,  his  throat  cut  from  ear  to  ear,  mouth  and  eyes 
wide  open,  grasping  the  razor  still  with  his  right  hand,  and 
such  a  look  of  despair  and  horror  would  almost  have  made 
Satan  turn  aside.  As  soon  as  possible  I  hastened  from  the 


248  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

scene,  and  though  twenty  long  years  have  intervened,  the 
horrible  image  then  presented  is  as  fresh  as  on  the  morning 
witnessed.  To  my  surprise,  the  owner  of  the  saloon  called 
on  me  in  the  afternoon  to  hold  religious  services  in  the 
room  of  the  victim;  and  if  ever  I  realized  all  that  is  meant 
in  Jonah  ii.  2,  I  did  when  offering  up  that  prayer.  Having 
learned,  during  that  day,  something  of  his  former  history, 
as  contained  in  my  sketch,  for  humanity's  sake,  and  for  the 
respect  due  to  his  parents  and  relatives,  with  a  few  Chris- 
tian friends,  as  far  as  possible,  we  gave  him  a  decent  burial, 
when  the  painful  task  devolved  upon  me  to  write  on  to  his 
honored  father  and  mother,  giving  the  sad  history  of  their 
once  promising  and  beloved  son.  The  hearts  of  those 
parents  were  so  broken  that  my  letter  was  never  answered. 
But,  oh,  what  notes^of  warning  came  back  to  us  from  the 
sad  history  of  Mr.  G.,  and  especially  to  every  young  man 
traveling  the  same  road  of  gambling  and  dissipation! 
When  he  left  the  parental  roof,  had  a  sketch  been  handed 
him,  giving  a  true  history  of  his  disgraceful  progress  and 
fearful  end,  he  would  have  revolted  at  the  idea;  and  yet  the 
course  pursued  was  just  as  sure  to  reach  such  a  result  as 
that  a  human  hand  will  be  destroyed  in  the  burning  fire. 
Let  all  young  men  who  read  this  mournful  end,  profit  by  his 
example. 

When  our  different  regiments  left  us  for  the  fields  of 
strife,  how  great  the  contrast.  It  resembled  the  stillness  of 
the  calm  after  the  storm.  No  longer  were  to  be  heard  the 
sound  of  the  bugle,  the  roll  of  the  drum,  or  the  shrill  notes 
of  the  fife,  but  seeming  peace  and  tranquility  reigned;  but 
the  interest  now  was  transferred  to  human  hearts.  I  think 
that  in  no  one  station  in  Iowa  did  I  enjoy  more  .liberty  in 
my  pulpit  efforts  than  in  Iowa  City.  Our  sermons,  of 
course,  were  shaped  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times, 
and  as  every  family,  almost,  was  represented  in  the  war,  the 
tender  sensibilities  of  the  heart  were  easily  roused  into 
action.  It  is  well-known  also  by  many  ministers  who  have 


STEREOTYPED     PRAYERS.  249 

served  this  people,  that  the  social  element  in  this  charge  is 
of  the  first  order,  which  greatly  contributes  to  assist  in  the 
work  of  the  pastor.  If  I  had  any  criticisms  to  present  in 
relation  to  the  membership,  it  would  be  in  reference  to  the 
length  of  their  prayers  at  our  weekly  prayer-meetings.  This 
criticism  would  apply  also  to  many  other  charges.  Some  of 
the  old  brethren  seemed  to  think  that  unless  their  prayer 
was  about  such  a  shape,  and  such  a  length,  embracing  the 
past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  that  its  value  was  greatly 
diminished.  In  this  way,  unless  much  time  is  occupied, 
but  few  could  take  part;  and  the  interest  of  this  important 
means  of  grace  greatly  lessened.  These  remarks  only 
apply  to  a  few,  and  in  my  different  charges  I  have  labored 
to  correct  this  evil,  but  have  found  it  a  very  difficult  task. 
When  habits  of  this  kind  are  formed,  it  seems  almost  im- 
possible to  induce  them  to  leave  the  old  beaten  track, 
though  they  are  aware  that  it  defeats  the  design  in  view. 
There  are  others,  who  seem  to  depend  upon  their  long 
prayers  and  frequent  repetitions  to  make  them  happy, 
instead  of  using  the  private  season,  as  they  should  have 
done  before  they  left  home.  As  an  illustration:  A  Brother 
E.  never  thought  the  prayer-meeting  a  success  unless  there 
was  about  so  much  demonstration.  In  a  word,  he  esti- 
mated the  meeting  by  the  amount  of  amens  and  hallelu- 
jahs offered.  During  one  of  our  prayer-meetings,  ,1  dis- 
covered that  he  was  using  his  best  endeavors  to  reach  this 
point,  and  by  his  demonstrations  was  sure  he  had  reached 
it  and  was  rejoicing  over  it.  About  this  time  I  dismissed 
the  meeting,  when  he  came  up  to  me  with  a' kind  of  disap- 
pointed look  and  remarked:  "  Brother  Taylor,  I  am  sorry 
you  dismissed  so  soon;  if  you  had  held  on  a  little  longer 
I  should  have  received  the  blessing."  I  said  to  him: 
"  Brother  E.,  I  supposed  by  your  notes  of  joy  that  the 
enemy  was  defeated,  and  that  you  were  rejoicing  over  the 
victory."  "  Oh,  no,"  said  he,  "  I  was  just  getting  ready." 
Often  since  that  time  have  I  thought  of  that  brother's  shout- 


250  THE     BATTLE     FlfiLD     REVIEWED, 

ing  over  his  preparations  for  a  triumph,  and  queried  in  my 
mind,  if  such  were  his  manifestations  in  the  "  green  tree,'' 
what  would  they  have  been  in  the  "dry."  Whilst  dwel- 
ling upon  this  subject,  allow  me  to  say,  that  if  we  would 
have  our  prayer-meetings  a  success,  our  prayers,  our  songs, 
and  speeches  should  be  short  (not  abruptly  so),  and  all  alive 
with  spiritual  interest.  They  should  not  always  run  in  the 
same  old  groove,  but  they  should  be  varied  according  to 
circumstances;  and  in  this  way  a  skillful  pastor  will  alwavs 
find  elements  of  interest.  Anything  else  but  "dragging 
their  slow  length  along" 

Our  presiding  elder  on  this  district  at  this  date,  was  Rev. 
Samuel  Pancoast,  who  did  all  within  his  power  to  give  suc- 
cess to  the  cause.  He  was  formerly  of  the  Philadelphia 
conference,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Upper  Iowa  in 
1858.  He  was  a  very  good  preacher,  a  close  student, 
very  genial  and  frank  in  all  his  associations  with  the 
preachers  of  his  district.  He  remained  with  us  about 
twelve  years,  when  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Phila- 
delphia. Sister  Pancoast  had  quite  a  taste  for  poetry,  and 
was  a  contributor  to  the  Ladies1  Repository.  Some  of  her 
productions  were  very  creditable.  Iowa  City  at  this  date 
was  the  home  of  Governor  Kirkwood,  now  (1881)  a  member 
of  President  Garfield's  cabinet.  He  was  loyal  to  the  back- 
bone, and  threw  his  influence  wholly  into  the  cause  of  the 
Union.  He  had  no  apologies  to  make  for  secession,  and 
hardly  any  patience  to  exercise  toward  its  sympathizers. 
Sitting  by  him  in  the  cars,  on  our  way  to  Davenport,  one 
of  these  apologists  for  the  rebellion  threw  out  some  remark 
which  made  the  governor  angry,  when  he  gave  the  in- 
truder a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing.  Two  or  three  days  sub- 
sequent to  this,  I  met  him  in  the  city,  and  as  he  greeted  me 
cordially,  he  remarked:  "  Mr.  Taylor,  I  have  an  apology  to 
make  to  you.  That  impudent  Irishman  made  me  mad  on 
the  cars  by  his  rebellious  remarks,  and  it  was  more  than  I 
could  stand.  I  was  taught  better  than  this — to  swear  in 


RETURN     OP     SOLDIERS  —  CEDAR     FALLS.       251 

the  presence  of  a  minister,  and  I  offer  my  apology  to  you." 
Of  course  it  was  cheerfully  accepted,  and  in  view  of  the 
aggravating  circumstances  I  had  already  cancelled  the 
fault;  but  this  little  act  of  his,  in  this  instance,  gave  me 
such  an  estimate  of  the  man,  as  I  could  not  have  had  if 
the  matter  had  passed  by  unnoticed.  It  proved  to  me  that 
the  element  of  sensibility  and  respect  had  a  place  in  his 
heart,  and  by  him  were  cherished,  though  human  passion 
had  for  a  moment  assumed  control,  and  all  that  was  want- 
ing was  time  for  reflection  to  restore  the  equilibrium.  I 
met  the  governor  often,  upon  different  occasions,  and  found 
him  always  the  same  frank,  sensible,  and  kind-hearted  man. 
One  of  the  interests  of  this  station  was  the  privilege  of 
a  frequent  visit  to  Widow  Carlton's,  who  lived  about  two 
miles  from  my  home,  within  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and 
Carver  Thompson's,  about  seven  miles  in  the  country. 
Sister  Mary  Jane  Carlton  was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Alcinous 
Young,  and  widow  of  Judge  Carlton,  who  died  several 
years  before.  This  being  the  home  of  the  father,  and  a 
kind  of  Bethany  for  every  lover  of  Jesus,  in  the  midst  of 
war's  commotion,  how  sweet  to  retire  for  a  season  to  this 
sacred  retreat,  to  enjoy  the  communion  of  friends  and  think 
of  that  land  of  peace  where  foes  never  disturb  and  strife 
never  enters.  Long  shall  I  cherish  in  memory  the  sacred 
hours  enjoyed  there,  with  some  now  enthroned  above.  But 
a  few  months  passed,  the  term  of  service  having  expired, 
when  the  soldiers  residing  in  this  city,  and  the  surrounding 
country,  relturned  from  the  field  of  conflict.  This  return 
was  celebrated  with  all  of  the  honors  and  interests  of  the 
occasion.  Many  a  heart  which  had  throbbed  with  hope,  a 
few  months  previous,  upon  their  departure,  had  ceased  to 
beat,  and  their  bodies  now  rested  upon  the  battle-field. 
Many  a  fond  hope  for  a  son's  or  a  brother's  return  was  now 
blasted;  and  this,  for  them,  was  an  occasion  of  sorrow 
rather  than  joy.  But  to  the  survivors,  the  citizens  lavished 
their  richest  favors,  and  made  them  feel  that  to  the  brave 


252  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  reward  was  sure.  Many  of  these  re-enlisted  and  served 
during  the  war.  I  had  now  been  pastor  of  this  station 
about  eight  months,  and  during  that  short  period,  what 
pages  of  history  had  been  made,  what  tears  had  been  shed, 
what  family  relations  had  been  severed!  Such  an  amount 
of  crime  had  hardly  ever  been  crowded  into  so  short  a  com- 
pass; but  the  conference  year  closes,  and  we  all  prepare  for 
its  coming  session  as  though  cannon  had  not  boomed  nor 
fields  been  stained  with  human  gore.  Rev.  A.  J.  Ky- 
nett  favored  us  with  his  presence  and  assistance  the  last 
Sabbath,  and  we  parted  with  these  dear  friends  without  a 
note  of  discord  during  the  year  to  disturb  the  spirit  of 
harmony  and  love.  Our  next  chapter  opens  with  a  new 
field  of  labor. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Having  just  taken  our  leave  of  Iowa  City,  we  meet  for  con- 
ference at  Marshalltown  to  report  progress  and  learn  our 
destiny  for  the  coming  year.  Here  was  Bishop  Scott,  who 
is  always  wise  in  his  counsels  and  respectful  in  his  decis- 
ions. At  this  session  are  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
Methodist  ministers,  and  all  loyal  to  the  Union.  Here  is 
history  worth  recording.  Rev.  C.  G.  Trusdell  is  now  pastor 
of  this  station,  and  he  is  very  successful  in  making  satisfac- 
tory provision  for  the  conference.  During  its  session  I 
was  consulted  as  to  my  willingness  to  go  to  another  station 
and  make  room  for  a  minister  who  was  anxious  for  the  posi- 
tion. Not  willing  to  make  my  own  appointment,  I  was 
somewhat  reluctant  in  giving  a  positive  answer;  and  yet  I 
could  see  no  reason  for  my  removal,  as  I  had  served  them 
only  eight  or  nine  months,  and  the  charge  had  prospered 
in  my  hands.  I  had  now  become  acquainted  with  the 
people  and  they  with  me;  hence,  I  was  better  prepared  to 
serve  them  successfully  by  our  short  acquaintance.  But  I 


VISIT     TO     WATERLOO.  253 

saw  the  coming  wave  and  concluded  to  let  it  have  its  swell. 
The  appointments  were  read,  and  I  was  appointed  to  Cedar 
Falls  station,  and  Rev.  R.  L.  Collier  my  successor  at  Iowa 
Citv.  As  soon  as  possible,  I  made  my  arrangements,  took 
the  stage  across  the  country  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  and 
reached  my  charge  about  dark.  The  weather  being  quite 
chilly  in  the  fall,  and  the  long  ride,  I  took  a  severe  cold, 
which  renewed  the  old  difficulty  in  my  side  brought  on  at 
Maquoketa.  The  friends  at  Cedar  Falls  received  me  very 
kindly,  and  my  introductory  labors  were  as  promising  and 
acceptable  as  on  any  work  in  the  conference.  But  in  the 
very  beginning  of  my  labors,  fhe  acute  pain  returned,  and 
though  1  did  not  mention  it  to  the  brethren  for  fear  of  dis- 
couragement, I  felt  that  without  relief  my  stay  would  be 
short.  What  made  my  introduction  pleasant  was  my  home 
at  Brother  Philpot's,  an  old  Ohio  Methodist,  with  his  pleas- 
ant companion,  and  Brother  and  Sister  Wilson  of  Ohio 
boarding  in  the  same  family.  Certainly  my  reception  was 
all  that  I  could  ask,  and  friendly  society  all  that  I  could 
desire.  Our  congregations  were  good,  our  class  and  prayer 
meetings  well  attended  and  spiritual,  an  intelligent  com- 
munity, and  a  very  prosperous  Sunday-school.  But  all 
these  would  not  avail  without  health  and  strength  to  per- 
form the  work  assigned  me.  I  could  not  think  of  leaving 
them  without  a  pastor,  so  I  continued  my  labors  until  spring, 
thinking  the  warm  weather  might  produce  a  favorable 
change.  During  the  winter  I  was,  for  the  first  time  in  my 
life,  afflicted  with  sore  eyes,  so  that  for  weeks  I  was  unable 
to  read.  During  this  time  I  visited  Brother  Ridlington,  who 
was  engaged  in  a  series  of  meetings  at  Waterloo;  and  whilst 
assisting  him,  one  of  his  members  had  a  valuable  eye- 
water, which,  with  one  application,  restored  my  eyes  to 
soundness.  It  acted  like  a  charm.  In  the  morning  when 
I  arose  I  felt  like  a  new  man.  I  was  richly  repaid  in  this 
restoration  for  all  the  assistance  rendered  the  pastor.  This 
was  my  first  introduction  to  Brother  and  Sister  Miller,  who 


^54  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

resided  in  this  city;  as  I  put  up  with  them  the  most  of  the 
time  during  my  stay,  I  found  this  a  very  pleasant  home. 
The  meeting  was  a  decided  success,  and  my  renewed 
acquaintance  with  Brother  and  Sister  Ridlington  gave  a 
pleasure  to  this  revival  season  which  has  been  remembered 
and  cherished  as  one  of  the  bright  spots  in  my  history.  A 
little  occurrence  here  which  was  new  to  me:  Having 
preached  a  sermon  especially  to  the  young  people,  I  was 
requested  to  repeat  it  the  following  evening,  with  which  I 
complied;  but  a  sermon,  like  a  story — however  good, — loses 
much  of  its  relish  in  its  repetition.  Though  in  this 
instance  I  revised  and  enlarged,  the  spirit  of  interest  was 
less  ardent.  Since  that  time  I  have  been  more  intimately 
acquainted  with  Rev.  Joseph  Ridlington,  and  I  have  found 
him  true  in  all  the  relations  of  life  —  a  good  faithful 
pastor,  and  a  successful  evangelist.  The  experience  of 
twenty- five  years  in  the  work  is  a  satisfactory  test  of  his 
fidelity  to  the  Master.  He  has  been  blessed  with  a  com- 
panion who  has  been  to  him  like  the  right  arm  to  the  work- 
man, ever  ready  to  pull  or  push  that  the  work  may  move  on 
to  success. 

The  winter  of  1861-62  was  a  very  severe  one,  and  our 
railroad  from  Dubuque  west  was  blockaded  by  snowdrifts 
for  days  at  a  time.  This  was  a  kind  of  drawback  which 
was  not  very  patiently  endured,  as  the  war  news  was  so 
very  exciting  that  every  mail  arrival  was  thronged  with  anx- 
ious inquirers.  Hardly  a  household  but  what  had  a  son,  a 
father,  or  a  brother,  in  the  army;  and  every  other  interest 
stood  in  the  background  compared  with  this.  It  seemed  at 
that  time  that  we  lived  on  excitement,  and  that  scarcely 
anything  possessed  interest  unless  infused  with  the  spirit 
of  war.  Long  shall  I  remember  the  thrill  of  joy  that  went 
through  my  own  heart,  as  well  as  that  of  others,  when  sit- 
ting at  the  dinner-table,  Brother  Shepherd  Wilson  came  in 
and  brought  the  tidings  that  "  Fort  Donelson  was  taken!" 
The  Iowa  legislature  was  then  in  session,  when  the  news 


VICTIM     OF     DOMESTIC     WINE.  255 

flashed  over  the  wires,  and  such  a  jubilee  I  suppose  was 
hardly  ever  witnessed.  No  business  could  be  continued 
under  such  joyful  pressure.  Both  houses  adjourned; 
and  they  gave  vent  to  the  greatest  demonstrations  of  rejoic- 
ing. They  cheered,  they  swung  their  hats,  embraced  each 
other,  and  some  of  them  wept  like  children.  Well,  it  was 
meet  and  right,  for  this  victory  opened  the  door  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  rebellion.  One  of  my  old  Sunday-school 
scholars  said  to  me  shortly  after  the  occurrence:  "  Though 
on  Saturday — led  on  by  General  Smith, — we  gained  a  posi- 
tion in  the  very  face  of  death;  yet,  when  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ing we  marched  into  the  fort,  and  our  regiment — Iowa 
Second — was  assigned  the  honorable  position,  it  was  the 
proudest  hour  of  my  life"  Another  interesting  event  of 
this  year  was  the  visit  of  Hon.  James  Harlan,  United  States 
senator,  who  addressed  the  citizens  upon  the  great  interests 
of  the  nation.  His  audience  was  numbered  by  thousands, 
and  the  address  was  a  very  able  one.  One  remarked  to 
me:  "  I  was  not  aware  that  you  had  such  eloquent  minis- 
ters in  your  church."  During  the  spring,  the  friends  con- 
senting to  release  me  for  a  few  weeks,  in  view  of  the  state 
of  my  health,  I  visited  Chicago  to  hear  Parson  Brownlow's 
opening  address.  He  had  just  been  released  from  rebel 
bondage,  and  he  gave  us  in  that  speech  a  history  of  his 
own  sufferings  and  that  of  his  brethren  before  his  release. 
The  history  was  horrid  in  its  details,  and  I  did  not  wonder 
at  the  joy  and  satisfaction  by  him  expressed,  when  at  last 
he  found  such  kind  relief  in  "Abraham's  bosom."  After 
visiting  some  of  my  friends,  I  returned  again  to  my  charge 
and  remained  with  them  until  our  quarterly  meeting  in  the 
spring,  when  by  mutual  consent  I  was  released  and  Rev.  L. 
D.  Tracy,  formerly  of  the  Wisconsin  conference,  was 
appointed  to  fill  my  place.  It  was  quite  a  trial  to  close 
up  my  labors  upon  the  charge  at  the  end  of  six  months,  as 
I  had  now  become  attached  to  the  people;  but  duty  called, 
and  I  obeyed.  Before  winding  up  my  labors,  however,  I 


256  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

must   state    a   very    sad    occurrence    just    before   my    de- 
parture. 

A  citizen  of  the  place  who  had  frequently  attended  our 
service  had  been  in  former  years  addicted  to  habits  of  dis- 
sipation. By  the  efforts  of  the  Good  Templars  he  had  been 
induced  to  join  them  and  take  the  pledge  of  total  absti- 
nence, and  he  became  quite  zealous  in  the  cause.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  faithful  and  true,  and  no  one  apprehended 
any  danger  of  his  return  to  his  cups.  His  companion  hav- 
ing made  some  domestic  wine,  placed  it  down  cellar,  and  at 
this  date  was  visiting  some  friends  in  the  East,  whilst  her 
husband  remained  at  home.  During  her  absence  he  con- 
cluded to  test  the  qualities  of  the  wine,  perhaps  little  sus- 
pecting the  effect  upon  him.  Here  was  the  fatal  step!  No 
sooner  had  he  tasted  it,  than  there  sprang  up  all  the  powers 
of  the  hidden  viper,  and  the  first  known,  he  was  stagger- 
ing through  the  streets  of  Cedar  Falls,  a  drunkard.  In 
this  state  of  intoxication  he"  came  to  one  of  our  relig- 
ious services;  and  witnessing  his  degradation,  no  lan- 
guage could  describe  my  feelings.  Last  week  a  man  and 
an  honored  citizen,  but  now  fallen  below  the  brute.  What 
a  spectacle!  and  all  this  just  by  tampering  with  a  little  cur- 
rant wine.  Within  a  short  time  he  was  in  his  grave. 
He  died  of  delirium  tremens,  and  it  might  have  been 
truthfully  inscribed  upon  his  tombstone:  "Here  lies  the 
victim  of  domestic  wine."  Since  that  event  I  have  been 
brought  to  see  the  danger  of  this  enemy  to  human  happi- 
ness in  any  form.  It  may  be  sugar-coated  and  called  by 
some  respectable  name,'  but  like  Satan  in  sheep's  clothing, 
its  character  is  not  altered.  Alcohol  in  domestic  wine  or 
cider,  is  alcohol  still.  It  will  make  drunkards  as  easily 
behind  the  cupboard  as  in  the  saloon;  and  the  more  so,  in 
many  instances,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  reproach  is 
removed;  and  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that  there  are 
thousands  of  sons  from  Christian  households  in  these  United 
States,  that  took  their  first  lessons  in  drunkenness  at  the 


MILITARY     OVATION.  257 

cider-barrel  or  domestic  wine-keg.  He  is  wise  who  under- 
stands these  things,  and  who  is  resolved  to  show  his  "  faith 
by  his  works." 

Having  a  supply  to  fill  rny  place,  in  visiting  Chicago  I 
passed  one  or  two  days  very  pleasantly  with  Rev.  R.  L.  Col- 
lier, who  was  now  stationed  in  the  city.  The  friends  in 
this  station  had  requested  his  services,  and  the  bishop  had 
honored  their  wishes,  and  Iowa  City  was  supplied  by 
another  minister.  Whether  this  event  in  the  order  of  Provi- 
dence was  any  indication  of  the  want  of  divine  approval  in 
my  removal  from  Iowa  City,  I  leave  my  readers  to  deter- 
mine. To  say  the  least,  it  was  rather  a  strange  occurrence. 

A  few  weeks'  rest  from  responsibility  and  labor,  and  the 
return  of  warm  weather,  so  renewed  my  health,  that  by  the 
request  of  Brother  Kynett,  now  presiding  elder  of  Daven- 
port district,  I  supplied  one  round  of  appointments  whilst 
he  was  engaged  in  the  sanitary  work.  This  change  was 
very  pleasant,  as  it  took  me  over  much  of  the  ground  where 
I  had  labored  in  former  years,  and  furnished  me  with  a 
pleasant  interchange  with  ministerial  brethren.  One  of  the 
most  interesting  appointments  of  this  round  was  at  Maquo- 
keta,  my  former  field  of  labor.  Two  regiments  were  about 
to  start  for  the  field  of  conflict,  and  they  met  here  to  enjoy 
a  kind  of  farewell  ovation  before  starting.  As  they  had 
expected  the  presiding  elder  to  be  present,  to  furnish  an 
address,  I  knew  that  I  was  booked,  and  within  a  few  short 
hours,  collected  all  the  material  to  be  in  readiness.  As  I 
came  in  at  the  last,  I  had  a  little  the  advantage  in  time,  and 
hundreds  being  my  old  hearers  and  friends,  I  had  the 
advantage  in  sympathy.  It  will  not  be  considered  egotistic 
for  me  to  say,  that  if  I  ever  made  a  success  on  the  platform, 
I  made  it  then,  for  such  inspiration  would  bring  out  the 
man  if  there  were  anything  in  him.  Judge  Burris,  from 
Davenport,  upon  this  trip  was  my  traveling  companion,  and 
preached  for  me  on  the  Sabbath.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
speakers  on  Saturday,  as  he  was  always  ready  for  every  good 
18 


258  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

work.  On  Monday,  as  we  returned  home  in  our  carriage, 
the  good  friends  of  the  town,  as  we  passed  through,  came 
out  waving  their  handkerchiefs  for  nearly  half  a  mile  as  a 
farewell  token.  Such  friendly  salutations  do  not  cost  much, 
bat  they  are,  when  compared  with  gold,  of  purer  worth. 
Said  the  judge,  when  we  had  passed  the  final  token:  "I 
could  hardly  desire  any  higher  honor  than  this,  such  a 
response  from  true-hearted  friends."  At  this  distant  hour, 
as  I  seem  still  to  review  the  scene,  I  am  inclined  to  write: 
"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  those  that  I  loved."  At  the 
close  of  this  round  upon  the  district,  as  Davenport  station 
had  been  left  vacant  by  the  appointment  of  Rev.  J.  G. 
Dim-mitt  to  the  office  of  presiding  elder,  I  was  requested  to 
fill  out  the  time  until  conference.  To  this  people  I  needed 
no  epistle  of  commendation.  Ten  years  previous  to  this, 
their  character  and  my  fidelity  had  been  mutually  tested, 
and  I  went  to  work  at  once  to  strengthen  the  weak  places 
and  to  encourage  the  faltering;  and  although  the  war  with 
its  attendant  evils,  with  other  changes,  had  altered  the 
spiritual  status  of  the  charge,  yet  human  hearts  and  God's 
grace  were  still  the  same.  I  labored  faithfully  during  the 
few  months  of  the  remaining  conference  year  with  increas- 
ing congregations  and  interest,  and  deeply  regretted  that 
I  could  not  comply  with  the  request  of  the  elder  to  serve 
them  the  coming  year.  He  urged  it  as  far  as  prudent,  but 
I  had  resolved  upon  spending  one  year  of  rest  in  Vineland, 
New  Jersey,  and  I  was  excused.  The  next  chapter  will 
embrace  some  of  the  interests  of  that  place.  We  will  now 
introduce  our  readers  to  Dr.  A.  J.  Kynett,  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  "  Board  of  Church  Extension  of  the  M.  E. 
church." 

Alpha  J.  Kynett  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  12,  1829,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children.  Five — three  brothers  and  two  sisters,  still  live. 
The  parents  were  Methodists — the  mother,  the  daughter  of 
a  local  preacher  in  Maryland,  and  one  brother  a  local 


SKETCH     OF     REV.     A.     J.     KYNETT.  259 

preacher  by  the  name  of  Henry  Peterson.  The  father 
for  many  years  was  a  class-leader  and  steward,  and  his 
house  a  preaching-place  and  home  for  the  old-time  itine- 
rants. Rev.  Samuel  Clark,  afterward  of  the  Iowa  confer- 
ence, John  Baer,  and  George  Heildt  distinctly  remember 
the  family,  and  especially  the  devout  mother.  In  their 
early  history,  the  family  removed  to  Ohio,  Trumbull  county, 
the  Western  Reserve;  then,  in  1838,  to  Rush  county, 
Indiana.  After  four  years'  sojourn  in  Indiana,  having  sus- 
tained the  loss  of  their  property  by  a  bad  title,  they  gath- 
ered up  all  their  effects  and  emigrated  to  Iowa  territory, 
Des  Moines  county,  in  1842.  After  reaching  their  place  of 
destination,  their  small  flocks,  household  goods,  and  fifty 
cents  in  cash,  were  their  only  capital  for  building  a  new 
home.  The  father  being  a  mechanic,  by  the  assistance  of 
his  sons,  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  winter  and  rented  lands 
through  the  summer,  and  in  this  way  accumulated  enough  to 
enable  them  to  enter  government  land  and  make  a  farm  of 
their  own.  In  due  time,  a  good  farm-house  was  erected 
by  their  own  hands;  other  buildings  and  improvements  fol- 
lowed, and  within  a  few  years  they  enjoyed  a  pleasant 
home  among  the  pioneers  of  the  West.  This  was  the 
family  homestead  for  many  years,  when  the  father  of 
Brother  Kynett,  after  an  illness  of  some  two  weeks,  died 
in  Christian  triumph  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  1856. 
His  old  pastor  from  Pennsylvania  preached  his  funeral 
sermon  from  "  The  righteous  shall  be  had  in  everlasting 
remembrance."  This  was  the  first  breach  death  had  made 
in  the  familv,  except  those  who  had  died  in  infancy;  but 
was  soon  followed  by  the  death  of  the  youngest  sister. 
After  this  change  in  the  family,  the  son  purchased  the 
homestead  of  the  older  heirs,  perfecting  the  title  in  him- 
self, then  placed  it  at  the  disposal  of  his  mother  and  faith- 
ful sister  who  remained  with  her,  and  continued  to  be  the 
family  home  until  1865.  At  this  date,  the  most  of  the  chil- 
dren having  removed  to  Mt.  Vernori,  Iowa,  the  old  home- 


260  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

stead  was  sold  and  a  new  home  provided  for  them,  by  the 
same  hand,  at  that  place,  where  they  resided  until  the  death 
of  the  mother,  which  occurred  June  10,  1869.  She  passed 
away  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith. 

The  early  school  privileges  which  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  enjoyed  were  of  a  superior  character  at  Western 
Reserve,  which  a.  New  England  population  always  provides. 
In  Indiana  they  were  fair  and  faithfully  improved.  In 
Iowa,  owing  to  the  newness  of  the  country,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  continued  labor,  there  was  some  interruption,  but 
every  opportunity  was  employed,  until  an  old  English 
graduate  of  Oxford  university,  and  a  superior  teacher,  took 
a  school  in  their  district,  became  specially  interested  in  the 
youthful  student,  who  was  soon  regarded  as  the  best  scholar 
in  the  neighborhood.  About  this  time  Foster's  letters  on 
Calvinism,  addressed  to  Dr.  Rice,  were  being  published, 
which  awakened  a  profound  interest  in  the  community,  in- 
tensified by  the  fact  that  the  prevailing  sentiment  was  Cal- 
vinistic;  and  many  were  the  discussions  out  of  school  hours 
in  which  teacher  and  pupil  shared  with  their  neighbors.  The 
logic,  theology^  as  well  as  philosophy  of  Foster's  letters  were 
keenly  relished  by  the  young  student,  and  tended  to  form 
the  habit  of  thought  at  this  period  of  mental  discipline. 
His  services  as  a  teacher  were  soon  in  demand,  and  about 
one  year  was  devoted  to  this  calling,  whilst  the  higher 
studies  were  pursued  out  of  school  hours. 

All  the  children  of  the  family,  as  they  came  to  mature 
years,  under  their  faithful  parental  training  embraced  re- 
ligion, and  became  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  handed  in,  when  they  came  to  Iowa,  on  the 
same  sheet  of  paper,  certificates  of  membership.  It  is  not 
strange  that  impressions  of  duty  as  to  preaching  the  gospel, 
which  had 'followed  him  from  childhood,  should  return  with 
intense  power.  It  was  not  strange  that  all  of  his  plans  of 
studying  law  in  Burlington  had  been  thwarted,  and  that  he 
should  have  been  induced  to  enter  into  a  solemn  covenant 


FIRST     SERMOX ENTERS     THE     FIELD.        261 

with  God  "  to  go  forward  in  the  way  which  he  should  make 
known  and  open  before  him."  Within  a  short  time  after 
this  covenant  he  was  called  to  service  as  leader  of  a  class, 
then  licensed  as  an  exhorter,  and  next  to  preach  the  gospel 
of  Christ.  This  was  on.  Yellow  Springs  circuit,  Des  Moines 
county,  Iowa.  The  presiding  elder,  Isaac  I.  Stewart,  and 
the  preacher-in- charge,  Joseph  McDowell,  conferred  to- 
gether, and  as  he  re-entered  the  church,  said  to  him:  "  You 
are  now  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  for  two  things  should  be 
always  ready — to  preach  and  to  die;  so  you  must  preach  to- 
night." Within  less  than  an  hour  he  stood  in  the  pulpit 
preaching  his  first  sermon  on  1st  Peter  iii.  18,  under  a 
most  simple  and  natural  arrangement — 1,  The  sufferings; 
2,  Their  vicarious  character;  and  3,  The  object  sought — to 
bring  us  to  God.  Thus  he  continued  to  teach  during  the 
winter,  and  on  Saturday  and  Sabbath  to  assist  the  preachers 
of  the  circuit  at  distant  places,  and  in  their  revival  efforts. 
One  new  appointment  at  the  mouth  of  the  Iowa  river,  after 
two  or  three  weeks'  continuance,  resulted  in  the  conversion 
of  sixty  persons — nearly  the  whole  neighborhood.  Another 
was  held  in  a  community  where  CJniversalism  held  almost 
uninterrupted  sway,  when  the  young  preacher  discoursed 
from  Job  xxxvi.  18:  "Because  there  is  wrath,  beware  lest 
he  take  thee  away  with  his  stroke:  then  a  great  ransom 
cannot  deliver  thee."  The  effect  of  that  sermon  was  not 
soon  forgotten.  With  the  close  of  his  school  came  a  new 
and  unexpected  opening.  A  former  minister  of  the  circuit, 
Rev.  James  C.  Smith,  and  an  intimate  friend,  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  Dubuque  circuit.  The  work  being  too  large  for 
one  man,  he  desired  a  colleague,  and  after  conferring  with 
Elder  H.  W.  Reed,  wrote  to  his  old  parishioner.  But  here 
arose  a  new  difficulty.  Such  an  extensive  field  .  as  this  to 
which  he  was  invited  required  a  good  horse,  and  all  his 
funds  acquired  in  teaching  were  not  sufficient  to  procure  one. 
But  right  here  his  oldest  brother  proposed  to  loan  him  his 
until  conference ;  and  thus  every  difficulty  removed,  the  young 


262  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

itinerant  mounted  his  horse  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1851, 
and  started  out  to  enter  upon  new  history.  The  experience 
of  this  young  herald  of  the  Cross  in  leaving  old  home  and 
its  sacred  associations  and  launching  out  into  untried  paths 
was  very  much  like  that  of  his  brethren;  but  God  had 
opened  the  way  and  he  went  forward  without  fear,  medi- 
tating on  Matt.  xix.  29:  "And  every  one  that  hath 
forsaken  houses,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father  or  mother, 
or  wife  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  name's  sake,  shall  re- 
ceive an  hundred  fold,  and  shall  inherit  everlasting  life." 
After  four  days'  travel,  he  joined  his  former  friend,  now  his 
colleague,  at  the  house  of  John  Paul,  which  became  a  home 
to  him  whilst  on  the  circuit.  On  the  Saturday  following, 
at  the  quarterly  conference,  he  was  formally  employed  the 
remainder  of  the  year  by  the  presiding  elder,  Henry  W. 
Reed,  who  has  ever  proved  himself  to  be  a  true  and  valuable 
friend.  This  was  one  of  our  wet  seasons  in  Iowa;  bridges 
were  swept  away,  and  not  unfrequently  the  young  itinerant 
had  to  swim  his  horse  over  swollen  streams — a  good  intro- 
duction to  the  service.  Three  months  finished  up  his  labors 
on  this  large  circuit,  when  he  returned  to  his  old  home. 
His  brother  standing  in  need  of  his  horse,  his  friends  coun- 
seled him  to  resume  teaching  until  he  could  enter  the  con- 
ference without  embarrassment;  and  at  this  date  there  were 
fears  lest  his  health  might  fail  him,  being  considered  a  good 
subject  for  consumption.  But  at  the  ensuing  session,  held 
at  Davenport,  in  August,  1851,  Bishop  Wauarh  presiding, 
all  of  these  facts  were  presented,  considered  and  overruled, 
and  he  was  admitted  on  trial,  in  a  class  of  seventeen,  and 
appointed  to  "Catfish,"  a  station  near  the  city  of  Dubuque, 
composed  largely  of  English.  He  had  hoped  to  be  a  junior 
preacher,  and  his  field  of  labor  nearer  home,  but  his  brethren 
knew  where  his  services  were  the  most  needed,  and,  like  a 
dutiful  son  in  the  gospel,  he  was  to  do  the  work  assigned 
him.  These  English  friends  had  fhe  reputation  of  being  a 
little  hard  to  please,  and  in  view  of  his  youthful  appearance 


DIFFERENT      POSITIONS     FILLED.  263 

some  apprehensions  were  at  first  entertained  that  he  might 
not  be  able  to  meet  their  demands;  but  these  fears  all 
passed  away,  and  they  were  anxious  that  he  should  serve 
them  the  second  year.  They  thought,  however,  that  one  of 
the  necessary  qualifications  of  a  preacher  was  to  be  poor, 
that  he  might  be  humble,  and  though  the  wealthiest  con- 
gregation in  the  conference,  their  estimate  of  ''table  ex- 
penses" was  the  actual  cost  of  board  and  washing,  and 
the  disciplinary  allowance  of  "quarterage"  one  hundred 
dollars.  No  danger  of  "waxing  fat"  on  this  line;  and  as 
one  of  the  results  of  this  humility,  the  charge  was  favored 
with  a  good  revival,  a  new  chapel  was  erected  at  "Center 
Grove,"  and  at  the  pastor's  suggestion,  "Catfish"  was 
changed  to  Rockdale,  which  it  still  retains.  At  Burlington, 
the  seat  of  our  annual  conference  of  1852,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  city  of  Davenport,  as  the  writer's  successor,  where 
his  labors  were  very  much  blessed.  During  this  term  of 
two  years'  service  in  this  city,  the  new  church  was  built  on 
the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Brady,  all  the  interests  of  the 
station  prospered,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term,  Sept.  10, 
1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Pauline  Gilruth,  born  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  Feb.  25,  1835,  and  educated  at  Berea,  Ohio. 
Brother  Kynett's  next  field  of  labor  was  Main  Street,  Du- 
buque,  embracing  1855  and  '56,  at  which  place  I  made  his 
house  my  home,  where  a  friendship  commenced  between 
us  which  will  know  no  ending.  Reference  free  and  full 
having  been  made  as  to  our  ministerial  relations  in  a  former 
chapter,  I  will  here  add  that  the  interests  of  the  charge 
were  well  sustained  throughout  his  entire  term,  and 
especially  the  reputation  of  the  pulpit;  and  I  think  that  I 
am  justified  in  saying  that  in  no  two  years  of  his  ministerial 
life  was  his  progress  more  marked  in  this  respect  than  at 
Main  Street,  Dubuque.  Perhaps  it  was  owing,  in  part,  to 
having  a  young  and  valuable  wife  to  assist  him.  There 
were  some  prophetic  sons  inclined  to  predict  that  as  he  had 
now  reached  the  highest  appointment  in  Upper  Iowa  con- 


264  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

ference,  he  would  seek  a  place  in  some  other;  but  such 
invitations  were  declined,  and  the  fall  of  1856  finds  him 
stationed  at  Iowa  City,  where  his  labors  were  attended  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  in  a  very  gracious  revival 
which  extended  into  all  the  churches.  At  the  close  of  the 
first  year  he  was  solicited  to  take  charge  of  Iowa  City  dis- 
trict, but  declined  in  view  of  his  wife's  health,  which  at 
that  time  was  very  poor.  In  1858  he  was  appointed  to 
Lyons,  where,  as  to  popularity  and  success  as  pastor,  per- 
haps he  reached  the  highest  point  in  his  ministerial  rela- 
tions, and  suffered  no  abatement  to  the  end  of  his  term. 
Next  we  find  him  in  charge  of  Davenport  district,  sustain- 
ing himself  also  in  this  relation,  until  the  war  of  the  rebel- 
ion  broke  out,  when  he  was  appointed  as  one  of  Governor 
Kirkwood's  aids;  and  whilst  attending  to  the  work  of  the 
district,  assisted  in  recruiting,  organized  the  State  Sanitary 
commission  in  connection  with  the  United  States  Sanitary; 
and  in  this  relation  several  times  visited  the  army  at  Vicks- 
burg  and  other  places,  secured  two  steamboats  from  the 
government  to  carry  supplies  to  sick  soldiers,  whereby  many 
lives  were  saved  and  thousands  provided  with  comforts, 
ignorant  of  the  men  who  served  them.  In  this  com- 
mendable work  he  was  attacked  with  the  prevailing  form 
of  disease,  which  came  near  ending  his  own  life.  At  the 
conference  of  1863,  held  in  Davenport,  he  was  elected  to 
General  Conference — the  last  of  the  delegation;  but  since 
then  (except  the  last),  at  the  head — a  compliment  to  his 
work  of  church  extension.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  the  Con- 
ference Church  Extension  society  was  organized,  and  his 
consent  obtained  to  act  as  first  secretary  if  the  preachers 
should  pledge  three  thousand  dollars  themselves  and  cordial 
support.  This  done  and  he  was  appointed.  The  imperiled 
churches  the  first  year  were  relieved,  great  improvement  in 
church  architecture  secured,  and  new  interest  in  church 
building;  and  in  1866  a  conference  loan  fund  was  created, 
which  has  aided  many  churches,  and  now  amounts  to  nearly 


GREAT     SUCCESS.  265 

fourteen  thousand  dollars,  including  a  late  bequest  from 
Samuel  Rounds  of  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa.  In  this  relation  he 
served  the  church  until  June,  1867,  when  being  appointed 
by  the  bishops  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  Dr.  Samuel  Y.  Monroe,  he  resigned,  and  entered  upon  his 
present  position  as  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Church  Extension,  to  which  he  has  been  well-nigh  unani- 
mously elected  at  each  succeeding  General  Conference. 
Whatever  may  have  been  said  by  some  as  to  his  elevation  to 
the  office  of  bishop,  I  should  regard  a  change  of  this  kind 
a  great  misfortune  to  the  church,  and  even  to  himself,  as  I 
am  well  assured  that  there  is  no  position  in  which  he  could 
be  placed  where  he  could  exert  such  an  influence/or  good 
as  the  relation  which  he  now  holds;  and  the  success  which 
has  attended  this  benevolent  department  of  the  church 
confirms  this  statement  beyond  a  doubt.  This  conviction 
has  its  foundation  in  the  following  reasons:  First,  He  saw 
the  necessity  of  such  a  work  on  his  own  district,  and  origi- 
nated its  organization.  He  introduced  the  matter  to  the 
General  Conference,  and  followed  it  through  all  its  stages 
in  that  body.  Then  rescued  it  from  ruin  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Monroe  in  1867;  secured  some  needed  modifications  by 
the  General  Conference  in  18G8,  and  conducted  it  success- 
fully- Second,  In  1872  he  secured  a  thorough  reorganization 
of  it,  taking  the  election  of  its  managers  out  of  the  perils 
of  a  toion  meeting  and  transferring  such  election  to  the 
GENERAL  CONFERENCE — a  movement  which  resulted  in  a 
similar  change,  at  his  instance,  in  all  of  the  benevolent  so- 
cieties of  the  church.  This  must  be  regarded  as  a  very  im- 
portant measure.  He  also  organized  our  plans  for  a  "  Loan 
Fund"  for  church  extension,  first  in  the  Upper  Iowa  con- 
ference, and  after  in  the  parent  board,  which  had  reached, 
January  1,  1881,  the  sum  of  $358,523.28,  from  which 
churches  are  aided  only  by  loans.  And,  finally,  he  secured 
the  publication  of  the  Church  Manual — a  very  important 
document  for  every  Christian  minister.  Before  concluding 


266  THE     B  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

my  sketch,  it  will  be  appropriate  for  me  to  say  that  his 
honorary  title  of  D.D.  came  unsolicited  from  the  faculty  of 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university  on  the  eve  of  his  appoint- 
ment to  his  present  position,  but  with  no  reference  to  it,  as 
it  was  not  then  known;  and  up  to  this  date  the  question 
may  arise  in  the  minds  of  some,  which  of  the  two  reflects 
the  greatest  honor — the  institution  upon  the  man,  or  the 
man  upon  the  institution.  We  think,  however,  that  it  can 
be  truthfully  said,  as  due  to  his  efforts,  and  his  assistant, 
under  the  blessing  of  God,  that  verv  seldom  in  the  history 
of  church  enterprises  has  any  one  reached  such  a  position 
of  importance  in  the  same  time  as  that  of  church  extension 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  And  it  is  the  earnest 
prayer  of  the  writer  that  the  good  work  already  accom- 
plished may  be  but  the  prelude  to  a  brighter  day  and  a 
richer  harvest,  until  every  true  worshiper  may  be  able  to 
say:  "  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  '  Let  us  go  into 
the  house  of  the  Lord.' " 


CHAPTER     XXXV. 

For  many  months  I  had  been  convinced  that  I  required 
rest  from  ministerial  labor  in  a  milder  climate,  until  my 
physical  energies  were  restored;  but  I  had  not  decided  as 
to  the  desired  locality.  Whilst  inquiring  in  my  mind  as  to 
the  desired  haven,  I  took  up  the  Chicago  Tribune,  and  saw 
a  short  notice  of  Vineland,  with  its  climate  and  advantages, 
and  at  once  decided  to  spend  one  year  at  that  place.  So, 
at  our  coming  conference  at  McGregor,  I  was  granted  a 
superannuated  relation  for  this  purpose.  The  locality  I 
knew  to  be  favorable,  as  it  was  half-way  between  Philadel- 
phia and  the  ocean;  and  one  day's  ride  took  me  through  in 
safety.  On  arriving,  Mr.  Charles  K.  Landis,  the  proprietor 
of  the  place,  met  me  on  the  cars,  and  proffered  me  a  ride 


yiNELAND  —  TEMPERANCE     MOVEMENT.       267 

over  the  premises;  but  as  it  was  Saturday,  and  I  wished  to 
spend  the  Sabbath  in  Miilville,  five  miles  distant,  I  post- 
poned my  ride  until  Monday.  As  I  called  upon  one  of  the 
stationed  ministers,  I  was  heartily  welcomed;  the  more  so, 
as  I  was  from  the  West,  and  on  the  Sabbath  I  agreed  to 
preach  for  him  at  half-past  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  but  stated  that 
I  should  not  preach  but  one  sermon,  as  I  had  visited  New 
Jersey  for  rest  and  recuperation.  After  my  discourse  in 
the  morning,  the  pastor  notified  the  congregation  that  I 
should  preach  again  in  the  evening;  and  with  all  of  my 
vetoes  to  the  contrary,  he  would  not  budge  a  hair.  What 
my  ministerial  brethren  may  think  of  such  liberties  I  can- 
not say,  but  I  felt  that  it  was  far  from  being  a  compliment 
— even  if  so  intended — and  an  abuse  of  ministerial  respect. 
If  he  were  well-pleased  with  the  sermon,  after  what  had 
passed  he  should  have  secured  my  consent  at  least.  I 
began  to  think  if  this  was  ministerial  law  in  the  New 
Jersey  conference,  I  should  be  a  little  cautious  in  the  future 
as  to  loyal  subjection.  Monday  morning  I  returned  to  Vine- 
land,  when  Mr.  Landis  met  me  with  his  carriage,  and  gave 
me  a  long  ride  and  a  fair  view  of  the  place  and  its  sur- 
roundings. The  town  itself  was  then  small — in  the  fall  of 
1862, — a  little  larger  than  the  "  Jefferson  City""  referred  to 
in  my  work,  but  five  or  six  houses  would  include  the  whole 
of  the  buildings  in  the  town  proper.  Having  made  my 
survey,  and  suited  myself,  I  purchased  twenty  acres  on  the 
line  of  the  railroad,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  town,  at 
twenty  dollars  per  acre.  Upon  this  I  built  a  neat  little 
cottage,  costing,  when  finished,  about  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  before  cold  weather  it  was  all  completed  and  ready  for 
occupancy. 

During  this  improvement  I  made  it  my  home  at  the  regu- 
lar boarding-house,  and  for  some  time  I  was  engaged  with 
Mr.  Landis  as  a  kind  of  private  secretary,  writing  and  send- 
ing out  circulars  in  every  direction.  I  found  Mr.  Landis,  in 
every  respect,  honest,  upright,  and  much  of  a  gentleman,  in 


268  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     R  E  Ar  I  E  W  E  D  . 

all   of  my   relations  with    him.     Whilst  at  the   boarding- 
house  I  became  acquainted  with  a  man  from  Ohio,  having 
come  to  make  Vineland  his  home,  who  remarked  to  me  that 
44  If  we  could  only  keep  saloons  and  liquor  out  of  the  place 
it  would  be  the  most  desirable  thing  in  its  society  and  im- 
provement."     To   this    I    most    heartily    assented.     When 
within  four  or  five  months  of  this  time,  he   had  put  up  a 
building,  started  a  grocery,  and  was  the  first  man  to  retail 
liquor  on  the  premises!      Mr.  Landis  and  myself  consulted 
about  this  temperance  question,  and  a  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens was  called  to  decide  in  reference  to  it.     Speeches  were 
made  by  him  and  others,  and  this  was  the   hardest  man  to 
fight  upon  that  occasion.     During  my   remarks,  in  winding 
up,  as  Mr.  R  sat  right  by  my  side,  I   stated  that   "he  was 
the  last  man  that  I  should  have   thought   of  to   oppose  the 
cause  of  temperance,  in  view  of  his  record  upon  our  first 
acquaintance,"  and  then  quoted  his  language,  and  appealed 
to  him  for  its  truth.      I   think  I   never  saw  a  man  wilt  as 
soon  as  he  did  when  I  exposed   his  true   position,  and  this 
was  a  complete  settler.     When  the  vote  of  the  citizens  was 
taken  at  that  meeting,  it  was  almost  unanimous  in  favor  of 
keeping  the  liquor  interest  out  of  the  town;  and  to  this  day, 
it  affords  me  much  pleasure  that  all  of  my  influence  during 
the  year  was  exerted  in  that  direction.     The  results  of  this 
early  movement  will  be  given  upon  another  page.     It  was 
easy  to  predict,  even  at  this  early  history  of  Vineland,  that 
it  had  a  prosperous  future,  for  at  almost  every  arrival  of 
the  cars  newcomers  were  on  hand  to  see  what  interests  and 
attractions  it  had   for  them.     And  thus  day  by  day  new 
purchases  were  made,  new  improvements  started,  and  the 
coining  city  at  a  distance  seen.     Perhaps  no  one  man  in  the 
state  was  better  qualified  to  carry  on  to   success  such  an 
interest  than  Charles  K.  Landis,  and  certainly  no  one  could 
have  had  a  stronger  motive   than   he,  to  reach   the  highest 
point  within  the  compass  of  human  enterprise. 

For  some  time  after  my  purchase,  we  had   no    place  for 


GEXEROSITY     OF     MR.     LAXDIS.  269 

religious  services,  and  as  a  result  we  were  without  preach- 
ing; but  as  soon  as  the  point  could  be  reached,  our  school- 
house  was  finished,  when  the  Presbyterian  minister  and 
myself  alternated  each  Sabbath.  Our  ministerial  relations 
were  very  friendly,  and  we  did  everything  to  promote  the 
spirit  of  unity  and  peace.  There  being  now  ten  or  twelve 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  residing  in  the 
place,  I  took  the  legal  stepj  to  organize  them  into  a  society, 
and  thus  we  were  prepared  to  build  upon  the^ proper  foun- 
dation. I  am  not  quite  certain  that  I  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  Vineland,  but  I  am  positive  that  I  preached  the 
first  after  our  church  organization.  I  served  the  church  as 
pastor  the  most  of  the  year  after  our  organization,  the 
membership  continually  increasing,  when  I  arranged  with 
the  elder  to  make  this  one  of  the  regular  appointments  on 
the  circuit,  and  thereby  I  was  released.  I  did  this  in  view 
of  the  possibility  of  returning  to  my  own  conference  at  the 
end  of  the  year.  I  cannot  too  highly  commend  the  gen- 
erous spirit  of  Mr.  Landis  in  appropriating  a  lot  to  each 
Christian  denomination  for  church  purposes;  in  doing  so, 
these  monuments  of  beauty  and  architecture  are  a  great 
ornament  to  the  city.  Besides  this,  they  silently  speak,  but 
no  less  eloquently ,  to  every  Christian  man  and  woman: 
"Here  you  may  find  a  home,  and  worship  around  your  own 
altars."  Nothing  speaks  more  forcibly  as  to  the  taste  and 
character  of  a  people  than  these  commanding  memorials  of 
mercy  and  truth,  and  they  exert  a  powerful  influence  in 
promoting  the  interests  of  the  place.  During  the  year  the 
proprietor  selected  a  spacious  lot  for  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  in  company  with  him  we  measured  and 
staked  it  off,  and  it  is  now  adorned  with  a  beautiful  house 
of  worship.  From  these  historic  items,  I  suppose  that  it 
may  be  truthfully  said:  "  That  when  the  full  history  of 
Vineland  is  written  up,  the  writer  will  come  in  for  a  place." 
During  the  winter,  the  pastor  at  Millville  for  whom  I 
preached  sent  word  to  have  me  assist  him  in  protracted 


270  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

services.     I  honored  his   request  and   remained  with  him 
several  days.  My  home  at  this  meeting  was  at  Rev.  Garrett- 
son's,  a  local  preacher,  a  relative  of  Freeborn  Garrettscn,of 
precious  memory;  and  if  not  mistaken,  he  possessed  some 
of  the  same  spirit.     Whilst  preaching  upon  the  redemption 
of  time,  the  good  work  commenced,  and  went  on  from  week 
to  week  until  about  two  hundred  embraced  religion  in  that 
station.     During  its  progress  the  pastor  of  the  other  charge 
sent  for  me  to  come  and  assist  him.     Not  wishing  to  show 
any  partiality,  I  went  at  once,  and  soon    both  charges  were 
favored  with  a  wonderful   work    of   grace.     This    blessed 
revival  went  on    in  both   charges   for  some  length  of  time, 
until  about  four  hundred  persons  were  received   into  the 
church.     Seldom   have  I  witnessed  a  more  thorough  work 
than  this.     I  now  felt,  though  not  laboring  in  my  own  con- 
ference, to  say:  "  Now,  thanks  be  unto  God,  which  always 
causeth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ,  and  maketh  manifest  the 
savor    of  his  knowledge   by  us  in    every  place"     Whilst 
residing  in  Vineland,  a  distance  of  only  four  or  five  miles, 
I  found  these  stations  a  very  pleasant  resort.     Upon  the 
return  of  spring,  I  attended  the  New  Jersey  conference  at 
Burlington.     Our  learned  and  talented    Bishop    Thomson 
presided,  and  on  the  Sabbath  I  had  the  privilege  of  listen- 
ing to  one  of  his  discourses  upon   the   evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity.    This  was  the  last  conference  that  I   saw  him.     In 
a  short  time  he   entered  upon  his  reward,  but  I  am   well 
assured  that  the  church  has   been  blessed  with  few  nobler 
men. 

Learning  at  this  session  that  the  colored  people  were 
engaged  in  revival  services  in  the  city,  I  had  a  curiosity  to 
attend  one  of  their  meetings.  I  had  heard  so  much  in 
relation  to  their  singing  and  preaching  that  I  wished  to  go 
and  see  for  myself.  So,  in  company  with  a  local  preacher, 
we  entered  the  church  just  at  the  close  of  the  sermon.  The 
inspiration  of  music  soon  reached  its  highest  point  after  we 
took  our  seats,  and  the  old  church  resounded  with  songs 


FOILING     THE     ENEMY.  271 

and  praises.  The  singing  was  led  by  a  chorister,  and  he 
seemed  inclined  to  have  his  own  way.  The  colored  preacher 
would  call  him  to  a  halt  occasionally,  and  cry  out:  "  Bred- 
ren,  let  us  change  de  exercises!"  when  he  would  break  out 
anew  and  make  the  old  house  ring  again.  As  well  as  I 
was  able  to  judge,  the  chorister  composed  some  of  his 
songs  as  he  went  along,  for  they  were  newly  coined,  and 
strangely  measured.  He  seemed  to  have  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  weak  places  of  his  Satanic  majesty;  and  his 
principal  drive  seemed  to  be  to  do  him  all  the  injury  within 
his  power.  I  was  well  aware  that  he  was  not  invincible, 
but  they  seemed  to  have  a  method  of  putting  this  master 
spirit  to  flight,  which  to  me  was  entirely  new.  My  readers 
will  be  interested  to  know  some  of  their  methods  of  foiling 
this  wily  adversary,  as  embraced  in  song.  Here  is  one: 

"The  way  to  make  the  devil  run, 

Is  to  shoot  him  with  the  gospel  gun. 

CHORUS  :  —  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want,"  etc.,  [four 
times  repeated.] 

Here  another: 

"  The  way  to  spoil  the  devil's  nest, 
Is  to  shout  like  a  Methodist. 
The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want,"  etc. 

The  above  is  but  a  specimen  of  their  military  tactics,  and 
should  I  say  that  they  embraced  new  features  of  success,  I 
should  be  true  to  history.  In  my  theological  training  I  had 
read  of  "  Satan's  kingdom,  Satan's  devices,  the  snares  of 
Satan,  that  he  was  the  god  of  this  world,  going  about"  in 
the  work  of  destruction;  but  that  of  being  a  "  nest-builder," 
to  me,  was  a  new  scrap  in  religious  history.  But  to  them  it 
was  a  small  matter  whether  the  sentiment  was  or  was  not 
orthodox,  so  that  it  would  jingle.  Occasionally,  when  a 
pause  was  reached  in  their  swaying  and  songs,  the  colored 
pastor  would  cry  out:  "  Come,  bredren,  let  us  bring  de  boat 
ashore;  'tis  time  to  close;  we'll  want  to  worship  another 


272  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

night;"  when  the  singer  would  start  off  again  with  some- 
thing new,  with  renewed  enthusiasm.  Having  remained 
until  past  ten  P.  M.,  to  witness  the  landing  of  the  boat,  and 
it^  seeming  to  us  110  nearer  the  shore,  we  started  for  home, 
having  secured,  within  a  few  hours,  material  for  days  of 
amusing  and  interesting  meditation.  The  cup  of  my  curi- 
osity was  now  full,  and  all  that  remained  was  to  profit  by 
past  experiences.  But  I  am  fully  persuaded,  with  all  of  the 
amusing  things  and  extravagances  in  their  religious  exer- 
cises, many  of  them  will  shine  in  the  heavenly  kingdom. 

Having  now  a  pleasant  cottage  home,  I  went  to  work  in 
preparing  for  the  useful  and  ornamental;  for  the  blessing 
of  health  cannot  be  secured  so  successfully  in  any  other 
way  as  by  plenty  of  exercis6  in  the  open  air.  And  thus  I 
prepared  my  garden  for  its  crops,  my  flower-beds  and  walks 
for  beauty,  my  ornamental  trees  in  proper  order,  and 
within  a  few  months  truthfully  I  could  say: 

1     "  My  little  cot's  with  herbage  crowned, 
And  beauty's  smiling  all  around." 

Being  a  great  admirer  of  flowers,  I  took  especial  pains  to 
cultivate  this  department,  and  therefore  secured  every  va- 
riety which  I  could  obtain.  Such  was  my  success  that  many 
carne  quite  a  distance  to  see  my  well-selected  varieties  and 
engage  seeds  for  the  coming  year.  My  garden  also  produced 
its  abundance  of  Irish  as  well  as  sweet  potatoes;  so  that, 
like  David  and  Jonathan,  beauty  and  plenty  were  blended 
together.  A  very  pleasant  event  of  this  summer  was  the 
visit  of  Judge  Burris  and  companion  from  Washington  City. 
They  were  my  old  Christian  friends,  and  members  of  my 
charge  at  Davenport,  and  nothing  could  have  been  more  in- 
spiring. They  remained  with  me  for  two  days,  and  they 
seemed  like  the  renewal  of  past  history.  They  still  reside 
at  the  capital,  "  filling  up,  I  trust,  the  measure  of  their  days 
with  usefulness." 

It  was  while  here  at  Vineland,  the  first  days  of  July,  that 
the  great  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  fought,  which  had  much 


SALE     OF     MY     HOME.  273 

to  do  in  the  restoration  of  the  Union.  During  the  progress 
of  the  war,  I  never  felt  as  much  interest  in  the  success  of  our 
arms  as  I  did  during  this  terrible  conflict,  and  never  did  I 
pray  so  long  and  earnestly  that  God  would  give  us  the  vic- 
tory. The  success  of  our  arms  upon  this  occasion,  as  well 
as  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  about  the  same  time,  sent 
through  the  nation  such  an  inspiration  of  hope,  that  they 
were  signals  to  the  crowning  victory.  For  the  first  time  in 
Vineland  was  the  Fourth  of  July  celebrated,  and  the  recent 
victories  just  achieved  gave  additional  enthusiasm  to  the 
occasion.  Mr.  Landis  and  the  writer  were  the  principal 
speakers,  when  the  entertainments  which  followed  reflected 
credit  upon  the  ladies  of  the  place.  Had  I  intended  to 
make  this  my  permanent  home  when  I  purchased,  I  could 
have  had  but  little  inducement  to  sell  out  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  finding  one  more  to  my  taste;  but  feeling  that  my 
work  was  not  yet  done  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  my 
health  having  improved  during  the  year,  as  the  time  of  its 
session  came  on  I  felt  like  entering  anew  upon  my  work. 
There  was  only  one  thing  in  the  way.  My  ready  means 
were  invested  in  the  place,  and  there  was  a  necessity  that  I 
should  find  a  purchaser  in  order  to  be  ready  for  ministerial 
work.  But  it  was  my  honest  conviction  that  if  duty  called 
me  to  efficient  labor  a  wise  Providence  would  prepare 
the  way.  Acting  under  this  conviction,  the  season  passed 
away  until  within  a  few  days  of  our  conference.  I  had  now 
just  time  enough  to  transact  the  business  of  the  sale,  and 
not  one  day  to  spare,  and  no  purchaser  as  yet.  This  was 
the  suspense  of  faith.  The  afternoon  of  the  last  day  arrived, 
the  time  being  about  one  o'clock  r.  M.,  and  as  I  looked  out 
of  my  window  I  saw  a  man  in  the  distance  approaching  my 
place.  As  he  was  nearing  my  house  some  unseen  visitant 
seemed  to  say:  "That  is  your  mcui,  who  comes  to  purchase 
your  home."  When  he  entered  my  room,  at  once  he  made 
his  business  known;  without  one  word,  gave  me  the  price 
asked,  and  within  five  minutes  the  sale  was  completed, 
19 


274  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEW.  ED. 

That  same  afternoon  the  writings  were  drawn,  the  money 
paid,  and  the  next  morning  I  was  ready  to  start  for  Iowa. 
As  I  visited  Mr.  Landis  to  pay  him  the  balance  due  on  the 
place,  he  looked  a  little  surprised,  and  in  fact  expressed  it, 
with  his  regrets  at  my  leaving;  and  my  heart  responded 
"  regret"  for  our  intercourse  through  the  year  had  been 
pleasant;  but  the  Master  who  called  me  required  continued 
service  until  my  work  was  accomplished.  The  facts  above 
stated,  at  first  view  appear  a  little  like  romance,  but  every 
syllable  is  true  to  the  letter;  and  the  occasion  furnished  the 
nicest  little  test  of  God's  faithfulness,  and  personal  trust, 
within  the  range  of  my  history.  Had  I  not  been  brought 
to  a  point  in  time,  the  divine  interposition  would  not  have 
been  so  manifest.  Had  the  test-time  been  enlarged  to 
months,  the  event  might  have  been  attributed  to  chance; 
but  being  brought  into  the  compass  of  an  hour,  we  see  the 
movings  of  an  unseen  hand. 

Before  taking  leave  of  Vineland  I  will  enter  upon  a  brief 
review.  I  have  already  stated  that  during  my  residence 
the  place  was  in  its  infancy,  and  the  stand  taken  by  Mr. 
Landis  and  its  citizens  to  make  it  a  temperance  town. 
Through  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  former,  and  the  enter- 
prise of  its  people,  it  has  continually  prospered,  until  it  now 
numbers  a  population  of  ten  thousand  inhabitants.  It  gives 
me  pleasure  to  state,  also,  that  the  Jinn  stand  taken  in  its 
early  history  to  keep  out  whisky-saloons  and  grog-shops  has 
been  faithfully  maintained.  By  my  request,  the  proprietor 
sent  me  a  few  items  in  reference  to  its  past  and  present  his- 
tory, which  I  will  here  record.  "  By  a  fundamental  law  of 
the  township,  the  question  of  '  license'  or  '  no  license'  is  sub- 
mitted to  a  popular  vote  at  every  spring  election,  and  thus  far 
only  twenty-five  votes  have  been  cast  for  license.  The  tract 
has  several  railroad  stations;  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles 
of  splendid  roads,  streets  and  broad  avenues  lined  with 
shade  trees;  many  fine  residences;  fifteen  church  edifices;  a 
fine  high  school  and  numerous  other  schools.  The  tempera- 


SUCCESSFUL    HISTORY HOPEFUL    FUTURE.      275 

ture  is  about  that  of  North  Carolina,  with  little  snow  in  win- 
ter. It  now  has  four  shoe  factories,  three  button  factories, 
steam  mills,  foundry,  machine  shop,  one  glove  factory, 
pocket-book  factory,  and  extensive  manufactories  of  cloth- 
ing. A  building*  association,  a  saving  and  a  national  bank 
have  been  established,  and  six  trains  arriving  and  depart- 
ing for  Philadelphia  and  New  York  every  day."  And  now 
for  its  temperance  and  moral  aspect,  given  by  the  overseer 
of  the  poor:  u  Though  we  have  a  population  of  eleven 
thousand,  for  a  period  of  six  months  no  settler  or  citizen 
of  Vineland  has  required  relief  at  my  hands.  During  the 
entire  year,  there  has  been  one  indictment,  and  that  a  tri- 
fling case  of  assault  and  battery,  among  our  colored  popula- 
tion. So  few  are  the  fires,  that  we  have  no  need  of  a  fire 
department.  There  has  been  only  one  house  burned  down 
in  a  year,  and  the  police  expenses  amount  to  but  seventy- 
five  dollars."  He  says:  "  I  ascribe  this  remarkable  state  of 
things — so  nearly  approaching  the  golden  age' — to  the 
industry  of  our  people  and  the  absence  of  King  Alcohol." 
What  a  record  is  this  *  for  a  young  city  of  ten  thousand 
inhabitants!  Well  might  the  writer  call  it  "  an  approach 
to  the  golden  age."  It  stands  without  a  parallel  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  United  States,  if  not^in-  the  history  of  the 
world.  This  shows  what  can  be  done  by  men  and  meas- 
ures. But  this  is  not  all.  "  The  home  example,"  says  Mr. 
Landis,  "  has  been  such  that  the  neighboring  cities  of  Mill- 
ville  and  Bridgeton,  which  previously  could  number  liquor 
saloons  by  hundreds,  and  were  often  the  scenes  of  disorder 
and  crime,  have  abolished  them  with  the  same  favorable 
results  as  in  Vineland.  The  example  has  also  spread  to 
other  townships  of  the  state,  and  over  one-half  of  all  the 
townships  in  the  great  state  of  Pennsylvania."  If  the  facts 
above  stated,  from  the  best  authority,  should  contribute  to 
aid  in  the  least  in  paying  a  proper  tribute  to  this  young 
city,  with  its  faithful  workers,  and  aid  in  the  cause  of  God 
and  humanity,  I  shall  be  happy  in  presenting  my  readers 


276  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

this  full  page.  And  I  most  earnestly  hope  and  pray  that 
the  commendable  history  of  Vineland,  in  its  influence  for 
good,  may  spread  from  city  to  city  and  from  state  to  state, 
like  the  leaven  in  the  meal,  until  this  unmitigated  curse  of 
drunkenness  shall  find  a  page  only  in  the  history  of  the  past. 
I  now  bid  a  short  adieu  to  this  city  and  its  many  friends 
with  my  parting  benediction:  God  bless  you! 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 

Having  everything  in  readiness,  I  took  the  cars  in  Vine- 
land  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  on  Wednesday  I  reached 
Davenport,  the  seat  of  our  annual  conference.  Here  I  was 
conducted  to  the  residence-  of  my  old  friends,  Brother  and 
Sister  Morton.  One  year  had  passed  since,  as  pastor,  I  left 
its  consecrated  altars  to  seek  for  health  and  vigor  in  an 
Eastern  clime,  and  now  I  return  bringing  back  to  Iowa  the 
precious  boon.  Bishop  Ames,  my  old  traveling  companion, 
gave  me  a  hearty  welcome,  and  as  a  kind  of  episode  intro- 
duced me  to  my  ministerial  brethren.  This  was  one  of  the 
sessions  that  I  really  enjoyed;  and  how  could  it  be  other- 
wise in  the.  society  of  such  Christian  friends.  One  of  the 
pleasantest  interviews  connected  with  it,  was  a  meeting,  by 
invitation,  of  all  the  old  pastors  of  the  city  at  the  home  of 
Hon.  John  F.  Dillon,  who  at  this  date  resided  in  the  place. 
Very  few  men  enjoyed  such  a  social  gathering  more  than 
he  and  his  excellent  lady,  and  none  were  better  calculated  to 
give  it  interest.  Among  the  pleasant  remarks  passed,  said 
Brother  Dimmitt  to  the  judge:  "Why  is  it  that  you  think 
so  much  more  of  Brother  Taylor  than  the  rest  of  us?"  "A 
very  good  reason,1'  he  answered:  "  he  is  the  only  man  that 
ever  married  me."  Sister  Dillon  was  the  oldest  daughter 
of  Brother  and  Sister  Price,  a  particular  friend,  and  engaged 
me  to  perform  the  ceremony  a  year  before  the  event;  and 


CLINTON     STATION PROMINENT     MEN.       277 

since  that  time,  not  a  link  in  the  golden  chain  of  friendship 
has  ever  been  broken;  and  I  trust,  that  as  by  its  power  it 
has  kept  us  unaltered  on  earth,  it  will  bind  us  the  closer  in 
our  glorious  reunion  in  heaven.  As  stated  in  a  former  chap- 
ter, Brother  Morton  has  reached  the  better  land,  but  Sister 
Morton  is  still  watching  and  waiting  to  join  precious  spirits 
who  have  entered  into  rest. 

My  field  of  labor  for  the  coming  year  had  been  decided 
before  I  left  Vineland,  as  Brother  Kynett,  the  presiding 
elder  of  Davenport  district,  had  written  me  previously;  so 
when  the  appointments  were  read,  and  I  was  assigned  to 
"Clinton  station,"  I  was  not  taken  by  surprise.  This  was 
a  smart  little  village  at  this  date,  about  one  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, and  a  great  lumbering  center.  Brother  R.  Norton 
was  my  predecessor;  a  true  man,  and  I  found  the  church 
in  a  good  healthy  condition.  Having  visited  the  people 
once  or  twice  previously,  I  was  not  a  stranger,  and  at  once 
I  found  a  home  in  the  family  of  Brother  J.  C.  Young. 
Brother  and  Sister  Young  were  the  parents  of  Rev.  E.  K. 
Young,  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference.  The  health  of  my 
brother,  Harvey  Taylor,  having  failed,  I  wrote  to  him  at 
Wyoming  to  come  to  Clinton  and  start  a  harness  shop.  He 
acceded  to  my  proposition;  so  when  he  came,  I  made  my 
home  with  him.  I  found  here  many  noble-hearted  brethren 
and  sisters,  and  for  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  intelligence 
the  town  would  compare  favorably  with  any  previous  station. 
This  year  embracing  the  very  heart  of  the  war,  and  the  one 
in  which  the  heaviest  drafts  were  made,  every  other  interest 
seemed  subjugated  to  this.  But  notwithstanding  this  heavy 
pressure  upon  us,  the  cause  of  religion  prospered  during  the 
entire  year.  Brethren  J.  C.  Young,  W.  H.  Lunt,  and  Simon 
Shoecraft  were  our  class-leaders — Brother  Lunt,  our  Sun- 
day-school superintendent,  and  Shoecraft  principal  in  our 
high  school.  These  brethren  took  right  hold  and  worked 
like  men;  then  here  was  Brother  Dunn,  Brother  Ham,  and 
many  others  whose  hearts  were  enlisted  in  the  good  cause. 


278  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

Among  the  friends  of  the  church,  Mr.  Win.  H.  Young  and 
his  excellent  companion  were  ever  ready  with  their  hearts 
and  pockets  open  to  render  assistance.  As  a  specimen  of 
"the  spirit  of  Mr.  Young,  who  conducted  the  largest  mill 
interest  of  the  place — when  one  of  his  hands  threw  out  some 
disloyal  remarks,  he  soused  him  into  the  mill-pond  in  order 
to  cool  off  his  Southern  ardor,  and  dismissed  him.  When 
taking  up  the  missionary  collection,  I  proposed  to  all  those 
present  who  used  tobacco  to  donate  the  amount  of  their  to- 
bacco bill  yearly;  when  he  said,  "  Put  me  down  ten  dollars;" 
but  after  a  little  consideration,  thinking  it  not  enough,  he 
added  two  dollars  more.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  at  that  time 
possessed  all  the  desirable  qualities  of  the  Christian  save  the 
"grace  that  bringeth  salvation."  This  they  did  not  pro- 
fess to  enjoy;  but  I  trust  that  when  this  short  memorial 
shall  be  read  by  them,  coming  from  their  old  pastor  and 
friend,  the  one  thing  then  lacking,  may  be  now  secured. 
How  true  it  is  that  nothing  can  be  substituted  for  the 
"  Light  of  life." 

Having  an  appointment  about  three  miles  in  the  country 
every  other  Sabbath,  on  that  day  I  had  three  sermons  to 
preach.  From  one  of  these  I  was  often  relieved  by  my 
brother.  Shortly  our  winter  revival  services  came  on  and 
continued  about  four  weeks  with  much  interest.  A  large 
number  were  converted,  and  we  had  a  general  "  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord."  Brother  E.  K.  Young, 
then  stationed  at  Davenport,  assisted  for  several  days  and 
contributed  much  to  the  progress  of  the  work.  Rev.  S.  N. 
Fellows,  then  stationed  at  Lyons,  also  preached  once  or 
twice  with  good  effect.  Brother  S.  Shoecraft,  having  charge 
of  our  graded  school,  rendered  us  valuable  assistance,  in 
view  of  his  influence  among  the  young  people.  I  was 
never  more  impressed  in  my  life  with  the  importance  of 
Christian  influence  in  the  school-room,  than  during  this 
meeting.  The  teacher  has  the  power,  in  a  great  measure, 
to  infuse  his  own  spirit,  and  stamp  his  own  image  upon  the 


THOROUGH     FORGIVEXESS.  279 

hearts  of  his  pupils,  and  impressions  thus  made  in  early 
years  have  their  influence  to  the  latest  day  of  life.  Rev. 
E.  K.  Young  at  this  date  had  but  just  entered  the  ministry, 
and  his  history  was  yet  in  the  future.  But  the  elements 
were  there,  and  needed  only  time  and  application  for  suc- 
cessful development.  Since  that  period  (1864),  those  years 
have  been  furnished;  and  though  small  in  stature,  in  minis- 
terial rank  he  stands  upon  a  level  with  many  of  his  brethren 
who  have  strength  sufficient  to  carry  two  big  D's.  A  resident 
of  the  country  seeing  so  many  "  Co.'s  "  attached  to  other 
names,  concluded  that  the  Co.'s  were  a  very  numerous  fam- 
ily; and  should  eminent  men  multiply  in  future  years,  as  v 
rapidly  as  in  the  past,  every  pastoral  charge  will  have  its  | 
own  doctor  as  well  as  pastor.  My  dear  Brother  Young  has 
not  as  yet,  I  believe,  shouldered  this  cross,  perhaps  think- 
ing that  it  is  not  a  necessity  to  give  prominence  to  his  popu- 
larity as  a  minister  of  Christ.  Rev.  S.  N.  Fellows  has  not, 
however,  been  so  fortunate.  But  notwithstanding  the  bur- 
den borne,  he  has  managed  to  make  for  himself  a  first-rate 
reputation  as  professor  in  the  Iowa  State  university.  Brother 
Fellows  is  a  safe  man,  filling  with  honor  every  position  of 
trust  in  which  he  has  been  placed  in  the  Upper  Iowa  con- 
ference, and  such  honorary  titles  set  about  as  lightly  upon 
his  spirit  as  the  top-knot  upon  the  head  of  the  blue-jay.  Du- 
ring the  winter  season,  Brother  Fellows  protracting  his 
meeting  in  Lyons,  I  satisfied  the  claim  against  me  bv 
preaching  several  times  for  him,  and  in  so  doing  formed  a 
very  pleasant  acquaintance  with  the  members  of  that  charge. 

Upon  the  return  of  spring  I  concluded  to  hold  a  series  of  \ 
meetings  in  the  country,  but  there  was  a  serious  difficulty  ) 
in  the  way.  Some  old  grudges  remained  of  a  stubborn 
character,  and  I  found  that  these  must  be  adjusted  before 
we  could  expect  a  work  of  divine  grace.  So  I  started  out 
early  in  the  morning,  and  visited  the  parties;  the  next  day 
prevailed  upon  them  to  come  together,  and  we  so  far  suc- 
ceeded as  to  have  a  show  of  victory.  Upon  this  basis  we 


280         THE   BATTLE   FIELD    REVIEWED. 

commenced  our  revival  services,  and  within  a  few  days  the 
altar  was  crowded  with  penitents.  Thirty  persons  embraced 
religion  and  united  with  the  church;  many  of  them  faithful 
to  the  present  day.  Such  was  the  interest  for  weeks,  there 
was  no  room  for  the  revival  of  old  feuds;  but  in  a  few 
months  I  learned  by  experience,  that  after  all  our  efforts, 
(  the  lion  had  been  caged  but  not  conquered.  He  would 
stand  before  the  gates  and  growl,  and  show  his  teeth;  as 
much  as  to  say:  "  Were  it  not  for  this  cage  you  would  catch 
it."  Thist  figure  well  represents  the  spirit  and  action  of 
those  who  profess  to  have  settled  old  difficulties,  and  still 
cherish  in  their  hearts  the  spirit  of  revenge.  Unless  the 
evil  spirit  is  cast  out,  and  the  spirit  of  Christ  takes  its  place — 
i.  e., — real  forgiveness  and  love, — there  is  no  hope  of  per- 
manent peace.  If  Satan  is  permitted  to  remain,  it  will  not 
be  long  before  he  will  lead  off  into  some  sinful  work. 

Mr.  E.,  within  the  bounds  of  one  of  my  charges,  had  a 
\  pique  against  his  neighbor,  Mr  Elijah  Frampton,  and  was 
I  determined  to  cultivate  this  spirit  to  the  fullest  extent.  At- 
tending one  of  our  quarterly  meetings,  he  became  deeply 
convicted  for  his  sins,  and  came  forward  as  a  penitent 
seeker.  But  pardon  and  peace  did  not  come.  He  renewed 
the  effort,  with  no  better  success;  and  thus  he  prayed  and 
wept  until  nearly  the  hour  for  closing,  and  no  light  yet. 
One  of  the  brethren  knowing  his  difficulty  with  his  neigh- 
bor, said  to  him:  "Mr.  E.,  perhaps  there  is  something  you 
are  cherishing  in  your  heart,  not  willing  to  give  up,  that  God 
requires  at  your  hands  before  he  will  bless  you.  Think  if 
there  is  not."  "  I  know  of  nothing,"  said  he,  "only  I  have 
said  I  would  not  forgive  Elijah  Frampton."  "Well,"  said 
his  adviser,  "you  must  surrender  this  if  you  would  find 
salvation."  One  more  struggle,  and  Mr.  E.  was  on  his  feet, 
and  his  first  utterance  of  praise  was  this:  "  Glory  to  God, 
I  have  forgiven  Elijah  Frampton."  And  now  Elijah  was 
the  first  man  he  wished  to  see.  This  is  what  grace  will  do 
for  a  man  if  he  will  permit  it.  It  will  lay  the  "rough 


SABBATH-BREAKING.  281 

paths  of  peevish  nature  even,  and  open  in  each  heart  a  little 
heaven;"  but  this  cannot  be  done  until  we  become  willing — 
yea,  anxious — to  change  occupants.  All  that  a  man  has  to 
do,  if  he  prefers  the  fruits  of  darkness  instead  of  peace,  is  to 
choose  his  master,  and  he  will  not  fail. 

When  I  returned  to  the  city  after  this  revival  in  the  coun- 
try, to  take  a  little  rest,  as  we  sat  at  the  dinner  table,  we 
we  were  startled  with  a  sharp  clap  of  thunder,  and  knew 
from  its  character  that  some  damage  had  been  done.  We 
were  the  more  surprised,  as  the  little  cloud  that  passed 
over  indicated  anything  else  but  a  messenger  of  destruc- 
tion. But  a  few  minutes  passed,  and  the  tidings  came: 
u  Mr.  L\s  smoke-stack  has  been  struck  and  leveled  to  the 
ground."  I  was  aware  that  he  had  been  pushing  things  to 
get  ready  for  business,  and  that  some  of  the  brethren  had 
been  counseling  him  for  working  on  the  Sabbath,  informing 
him  that  he  would  lose  more  than  he  would  gain.  But  such 
was  his  anxiety  to  hurry  through,  that  in  this  instance  he 
had  overstepped  his  own  convictions,  as  he  was  generally  an 
observer  of  the  Sabbath.  The  event  was  a  remarkable  one, 
as  given  me  by  one  of  my  old  friends  present.  Said  he: 
"'We  had  just  sat  down  to  dinner — not  five  minutes  since 
we  left  the  stack,  when  the  lightning  flashed,  and  the 
report  followed.  For  a  moment  we  were  all  stunned — not 
a  word  spoken — when  Mr.  L.  said  to  his  wife:  'Will  you 
look  out  and  see  if  my  smoke-stack  is  all  right.'  She 
returned  in  a  moment  and  exclaimed:  'There  is  nothing 
left  of  it!'  "  Said  Mr.  S.,  who  gave  me  this  relation,  "  If  we 
had  remained  five  minutes  longer,  every  one  of  us — six  or 
seven  in  number — would  have  been  killed."  He  further 
stated  to  me:  "This  is  the  last  Sunday-work  that  I  shall 
do,  let  the  urgency  be  what  it  will."  Here  was  one  thou- 
sand dollars  scattered  in  a  moment  to  the  four  winds. 
One  of  the  friends  who  had  chided  him  for  his  violation  of 
the  Sabbath,  remarked  to  me,  "That  the  angel  having 
charge  of  the  citv  came  along  with  his  big  gun,  and  as  he 


282  THE      BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

came  in  sight  of  that  stack  partly  built  on  the  Sabbath, 
he  took  a  dead  rest,  gave  it  a  centre  shot,  and  knocked 
it  all  to  flinders."  So  you  see  this  was  about  all  the  sympa- 
thy manifested  by  the  people  for  his  "loss  of  one  thousand 
dollars.  He  proceeded  at  once  to  rebuild,  but  no  more  of 
its  work  was  done  on  the  Lord's  day.  How  true  it  is  that 
nothing  is  gained  by  slighting  the  commands  of  God. 

I  was  visited  this  spring  by  Rev.  Win.  Lease,  who  was 
stationed  at  Sabula.  He  came  upon  a  little  business  matter, 
which  opened  the  door  to  a  more  extended  acquaintance. 
Subsequently  I  met  him  at  his  own  home,  where  I  found  a 
very  pleasant  family  and  a  hearty  welcome.  While  enjoy- 
ing the  benefits  of  this  social  interview,  he  made  one  remark 
of  such  value  that  I  retain  it  to  this  day;  and  I  sincerely 
hope  that  the  statement  then  made  may  be  as  true  in  1881 
as  in  the  year  1864.  The  statement  was  this:  "  Mrs.  Lease 
and  myself  have  fully  resolved  that  the  ;  honey-moon'  shall 
last  to  the  end  of  life."  I  then  said  to  myself,  what  a  noble 
resolve,  and  what  an  influence  will  it  exert  upon  these 
promising  children.  Having  a  kind  and  loving  example 
always  presented  before  them,  they  will  grow  up  cherishing 
the  same  pacific  spirit.  Should  this  resolve  be  faithfully 
carried  out,  I  should  consider  it  a  great  honor  to  be  invited 
to  his  golden  wedding;  and  I  hereby  request  an  invitation, 
promising  the  best  speech  I  have  for  the  occasion.  But 
before  that  time,  the  writer,  as  well  as  the  subjects,  will 
doubtless  have  reached  that  land  where  they  "  neither 
marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  are  as  the  angels  in 
heaven."  Brother  Lease  has  been  laboring  in  our  con- 
ference about  twenty-four  years,  gradually  rising  in  the 
confidence  of  his  brethren,  until  he  has  reached  one  of  its 
most  honorable  and  responsible  positions,  i.  <?.,  presiding 
elder  of  Davenport  district.  May  his  increasing  light  find 
its  final  consummation  \nperfect  day. 

Having  been  fully  Westernized  by  many  solid  experi- 
ences, mv  only  son  living  having  recently  graduated  at  Ann 


TRIUMPHANT     DEATH.  283 

Arbor,  Mich.,  I  wrote  him  to  come  to  Iowa,  having  en- 
couragement that  he  could  secure  a  position  as  principal  in 
our  graded  school.  He  accordingly  came,  and  within  a  short 
time  was  employed  at  Lyons,  where  he  remained  during 
one  year.  Continuing  in  this  relation  as  teacher  for  two  or 
three  years,  he  concluded  to  study  medicine,  when,  after 
taking  a  thorough  course,  he  located  at  Wheelersburg,  Scioto 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  is  still  a  practicing  physician.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  James  S.  Folsom,  of  French  Grant, 
Ohio,  who  is  well  qualified  to  fill  'her  place  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life.  During  my  feeble  state  of  health,  induced 
by  pneumonia,  I  made  my  home  in  their  family  for  more 
than  one  year,  and  found  my  stay  very  pleasant.  Moving 
along  upon  the  wave,  having  had  no  permanent  home  for 
more  than  forty  years,  it  is  pleasant  to  find  such  a  Bethesda 
"in  age  and  feebleness  extreme." 

In  the  midst  of  my  pastoral  labors  on  this  charge,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Marshall,  Henry  county,  Iowa,  from 
Sister  Simpson,  bearing  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  her 
husband.  My  readers  will  bear  in  mind  that  .Rev.  Wm. 
Simpson  was  my  first  colleague  on  Mt.  Pleasant  circuit.  Our 
last  meeting  was  at  Honey  Creek,  on  my  way  from  Sioux 
City  to  conference,  six  years  previous.  But  now  the  "  silver 
cord  had  been  loosed  and  the  golden  bowl  broken."  As  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1837,  he 
had  been  preaching  the  blessed  gospel  for  thirty-seven 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Iowa  con- 
ference; "having  raised  the  standard  of  the  Cross  upon  the 
battle-fields  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Illinois  "  in  years 
previous.  He  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Keokuk,  Iowa; 
when  in  1850  he  volunteered  to  go  to  Council  Bluffs  mis- 
sion. Here  the  inhabitants  were  nearly  all  Mormon  and 
Indian.  In  this  Mormon  crty  he  preached  the  first  gospel 
sermon;  was  cursed  by  the  priest,  but  was  forced  to  remove 
the  curse  by  the  manly  and  heroic  conduct  of  a  few  Gen- 
tiles. He  remained  upion  this  mission  for  two  full  years, 


7 


284  THE     1JATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

when  he  reported  at  the  close  two  hundred  and  forty  mem- 
bers. During  five  years  of  his  ministry  in  the  Iowa  con- 
ference, he  filled  the. office  of  presiding  elder,  and  in  every 
position  he  was  the  same  noble-hearted  and  true  man. 
In  our  labors  together  on  Mt.  Pleasant  work,  he  often  said 
to  me,  as  referred  to  in  a  previous  chapter:  "  When 
I  am  dying,  I  expect  my  last  song  to  be,  c  We  will 
cross  the  river  of  Jordan,  happy  in  the  Lord.' "  I  will 
here  present  to  my  readers  a  short  extract  from  the  pen 
of  Rev.  Thomas  Corkhill,  an  intimate  friend,  as  to  the 
closing  scene:  "A  few  hours  before  his  death  the  pain 
subsided,  and  he  rested  quietly  until  the  time  of  his  depart- 
ure. Beside  his  couch  stood  a  few  faithful  friends,  who 
had  ministered  to  him  in  his  affliction,  and  now  waited  to 
witness  his  triumph  in  the  final  hour.  Steadily  the  tide  of 
life  was  ebbing,  and  the  darkness  of  the  grave  drawing 
near.  His  wife  and  children  were  the  only  objects  of  solici- 
tude now.  The  great  work  had  already  been  accomplished, 
and  like  the  apostle  he  was  ready  to  be  offered.  Two  sons 
stood  upon  the  battle-field;  three  younger  members  of  the 
family  stood  -beside  his  bed.  Looking  upon  the  face  of  his 
wife,  he  said:  'Educate  these  children;  train  them  for 
God.'  -Feeling  now  that  his  hour  had  come,  and  that  he 
stood  beside  the  chilling  waters,  he  raised  his  voice. in  full 
melodious  ptrain  and  sang: 

"  'We'll  cross  the  river  of  Jordan, 
Happy  in  the  Lord.'  " 

This  is  the  first  instance  in  my  work  where  I  have  given 
the  details  of  the  Christian's  triumphant  death,  because  of 
the  space  they  would  fill,  in  testimonies  so  abundant;  but 
Brother  Simpson  being  my  old  colleague  and  particular 
friend,  I  have  thought  it  due  to  his  memory.  Brother 
Corkhill,  upon  the  occasion  of  his  death,  composed  a  few 
appropriate  lines,  which  I  here  record  in  part: 

"  Thou  art  gone  to  the  grave,  where  thy  fathers  are  sleeping, 
Where  sorrow  and  grief  shall  oppress  thee  no  more. 


HISTORIC     CONTRAST.  285 

Though  kindred  and  friends  by  thy  grave  may  stand  weeping, 
Thy  labors  and  conflicts  forever  are  o'er. 

"Thou  art  gone  to  the  grave;  but  at  Jordan's  dark  billow, 

Thy  soul  not  its  darkness  nor  chilliness  feared; 
Serene  on  His  bosom,  thy  head  thou  dids't  pillow, 
While  the  crown  and  the  palm  in  the  distance  appeared. 

"'In  joy  most  triumphant,  in  ecstasy  holy, 

We'll  cross  the  cold  tide,'  was  his  dying  acclaim, 
'  And  with  spirits  redeemed — with  the  meek  and  the  lowly, 
Possess  them  in  heaven,  through  Jesus'  name.'  " 

If  justice  to  other  charges  would  allow,  I  would  be 
pleased  to  enlarge  upon  iny  labors  in  this  station;  but  I 
cannot  extend  the  one  without  slighting  the  other.  But 
there  is  one  thought  upon  which  I  wish  to  dwell  before 
taking  leave  of  this  city.  How  often  on  horseback,  in  my 
previous  labors,  did  I  ride  over  the  very  ground  upon  which 
the  town  is  now  built,  when  not  a  house  nor  an  inhabitant 
was  to  be  seen,  but  now  and  then  a  prairie  chicken  came 
sailing  by,  as  if  looking  for  a  place  to  light.  And  a  little 
further  on  were  a  small  cluster  of  houses,  called  Lyons, 
where  by  the  roadside  was  to  be  seen  a  little  shanty,  and 
on  its  sign  written,  "  Cakes  and  Bier."  I  thought  the 
orthography  of  the  last  word  very  appropriate,  inasmuch  as 
it  sustained  a  more  intimate  relation  to  death  than  life;  so 
when  properly  defined  it  meant  "  Cakes  and  Death."  This 
frontier  signal  remained  there  for  some  years,  but  was 
finally  displaced  in  the  onward  march  of  improvement.  But 
now  there  is  no  further  use  for  the  horse  and  his  rider  over 
these  bare  prairies,  for  the  old  iron  horse  is  master  of  the 
situation.  "The  sound  of  the  church-going  bell"  had  not 
then  sent  one  musical  wave  o'er  its  uncultivated  wastes, 
nor  the  sweet  invitations  of  the  gospel  thrilled  the  human 
heart.  The  mighty  machinery  that  now  rolls  out  its  millions 
of  feet  of  lumber  in  twenty* four  hours,  then  existed  only  in 
the  ore,  and  its  present  stately  dwellings  were  then  waving 
in  forests  of  pine.  Thousands  that  now  crowd  its  thrifty 


286  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

streets  had  not  seen  the  light  of  day,  nor  the  railroad's 
rapid  travel  ever  marked  its  way.  Passing  through  this 
growing  city  at  this  date,  and  then  going  back  in  its  history 
nearly  forty  years,  it  seems  for  a  moment  more  like  romance 
than  fact.  And  yet  these  stately  towers  and  massive  walls 
proclaim  on  every  hand  its  truthful  history.  And  the  man 
who  daily  walks  its  streets  may  yet  live  to  witness  as  great 
a  change  in  the  future  as  in  the  past. 

u  O  may  its  crown  of  glory  be 

Full  consecration,  Lord,  to  thee; 
Then  shall  its  walks  and  piles  resound, 
With  peace  and  plenty  all  around" 

With  this  historical  tribute,  I  wave  a  friendly  adieu  to 
Clinton  City  and  its  sacred  interests,  looking  forward  to  the 
day  when  eras  and  periods  existing  in  time  will  be  lost  in 
the  annals  of  heaven. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

We  meet  this  fall  at  Waterloo  for  conference,  our  loyalty 
to  the  Union  symbolized  by  the  waving  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  How  natural  it  is  for  the  man  who  loves  his  God 
to  love  the  country  God  has  given  him!  I  regard  that  doc- 
trine sound:  "  If  a  man  love  God  he  will  love  his  neighbor 
also,"  for  the  greater  includes  the  less — and  no  less  true 
that  he  will  love  his  country  also;  for  the  laws  governing 
both  are  the  same;  and  especially  a  country  with  "  every 
blessing  blessed."  As  I  looked  at  its  colored  folds  waving 
gently  in  front  of  the  Methodist  church,  I  felt  in  my  heart 
like  saying:  "  That  star-spangled  banner!  O,  long  may  it 
wave,  o'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 
Bishop  Scott  was  again  with  us  in  the  spirit  of  wisdom 
and  love.  This  session  was  marked  as  the  beginning  of 
our  "Church  Extension  Society"  in  practical  form.  At 


RECOVERY     FROM     DEFEAT. 


28? 


this  conference  it  was  regularly  organized,  its  officers 
appointed,  and  a  subscription  taken  up  amounting  to  some 
two  or  three  thousand  dollars.  An  address  was  made  by 
Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett  as  to  its  object  and  merits,  at  the  close 
of  which  I  followed  with  some  remarks;  but  what  was  still 
better,  with  my  subscription  of  one  hundred  dollars.  Other 
brethren  then  followed,  until  the  results  were  reached  as 
noted  above.  I  suppose  as  one  of  the  rewards  of  this  dona- 
tion, I  was  appointed  the  first  treasurer,  with  Hon.  Hiram 
Price  president,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  Kynett  corresponding  secre- 
tary and  general  agent.  This  child  of  promise  has  continued 
to  grow  and  take  on  strength  from  year  to  year,  until  it  has 
become  one  among  the  first  benevolent  interests  of  the 
church,  and  its  influence  is  yearly  increasing.  With  such 
men  as  Doctor  Kynett  and  his  assistant,  0.  C.  McCabe,  to 
manage  the  society's  interests,  I  am  not  surprised  that  it  has 
attained  its  present  importance;  and  from  recent  indica- 
tions, it  has  only  just  started  out  upon  its  mission  of  mercy 
and  love.  From  the  success  which  has  already  attended 
the  efforts  of  its  secretaries,  I  am  more  than  ever  con- 
vinced "that  we  have  the  right  men  in  the  right  place" 

As  I  had  intended  to  take  a  rest  at  the  close  of  this  year, 
and  being  interested  in  the  right  kind  of  a  man  for  Clinton 
City,  I  waited  upon  Bishop  Scott  personally  and  secured 
the  man  that  I  desired.  We  were  upon  the  point  of  build- 
ing a  new  church,  and  as  Brother  Trusdell  was  fully  com- 
petent, the  bishop  appointed  him  my  successor  to  that 
charge.  My  first  acquaintance  with  Rev.  C.  G.  Trusdell 
as  a  minister,  was  rather  peculiar  and  interesting.  I  was 
then  Sunday-school  agent  for  the  conference,  and  went  with 
him  to  his  first  country  appointment.  Whether  my  pres- 
ence, as  an  older  minister,  had  any  tendency  to  embarrass 
him,  I  cannot  say;  but  one  thing  I  can  say — when  fairly  into 
the  merits  of  his  discourse,  he  lost  daylight  and  began  to 
feel  around  for  thoughts;  and  as  nothing  but  vacancy 
appeared,  he  sat  down,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  ser- 


288  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

vice  in  my  hands.  Brother  Trusdell  at  this  time  had  not 
been  in  the  cavalry  service — as  he  was  afterwards, — else  he 
might  have  turned  a  short  corner  and  given  the  enemy  a 
back-handed  lick,  and  in  this  way  covered  his  retreat.  But 
instead  of  this,  he  very  meekly  and  calmly  surrendered  the 
pulpit  and  took  his  seat,  as  much  as  to  say:  "Gentlemen 
and  ladies,  there  is  no  use  of  talking — I  have  made  a  fail- 
ure and  you  all  know  it."  He  could  not  say,  either,  as  an 
old  minister  whom  I  once  heard  under  similar  circum- 
stances. After  tugging  hard  to  get  through,  he  remarked 
at  the  close  of  his  sermon*  "Well,  brethren,  I  have  got 
through  and  I  am  glad  of  it;"  for  Brother  Trusdell  was 
not  through  j  he  had  called  a  halt,  and  stopped,  just 
when  he  wanted  to  go.  But  there  was  one  feature  of 
this  failure  that  I  really  admired.  Though  deeply  morti- 
fied, he  acted  like  a  man;  he  did  not  climb  a  tree,  or 
take  to  his  bed,  but  he  bore  the  cross  without  a  groan,  and 
waited  patiently  on  his  seat  to  see  what  disposition  I  would 
make  with  reserved  forces.  Being  an  old  tactician  in  this 
line — as  an  old  member  of  this  conference  will  affirm  who 
once  saw  me  tested — I  began  in  the  outset  to  speak  well  of 
his  sermon,  commending  its  sentiments  and  its  brevity; 
never  hinted  to  them  that  it  was  a  failure — glad  that  he  did 
not  call  it  such — and  in  my  exhortation  I  had  such  liberty 
and  light  that  we  came  out  in  the  end  victorious.  The 
short  sermon  gave  me  ample  room  for  an  exhortation,  and 
before  we  left,  we  wrote  success  upon  our  banners.  After 
dinner  we  had  twelve  miles  to  Iowa  City,  our  home,  when 
we  had  a  long  encouraging  talk,  which  gave  new  inspira- 
tion to  the  young  preacher,  and  to  which  interview  Brother 
Trusdell  has  since  often  referred  with  heartfelt  gratitude 
and  satisfaction.  Even  in  this  appointment  to  Clinton  he 
was  young  in  the  ministry,  but  he  had  the  manhood,  with  a 
fine  business  talent,  and  during  the  year  erected  a  commo- 
dious church,  which  is  still  their  house  of  worship.  Not 
only  was  the  church  completed,  but  the  station  prospered 


DEATH     OF     PRESIDENT     LINCOLN 


289 


in  all  of  its  interests.  At  the  close  of  the  second  year  he 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  Clinton  county,  which 
position  he  filled  with  honor;  then  again  prosecuted  his 
work  in  the  ministry,  a  part  of  the  time  as  presiding  elder, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Chicago.  After  a  term  of  ser- 
vice in  that  city  as  pastor,  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  very 
responsible  position  which  he  now  occupies  as  "  superin- 
tendent of  the  Relief  and  Aid  Society,"  for  which  his  emi- 
nent business  talent  so  fully  qualifies  him.  May  his  shadow 
never  grow  less! 

It  was  during  the  spring  of  1865,  a  short  time  after  Gen- 
eral Lee's  surrender,  that  the  heart-chilling  tidings  flashed 
over  the  telegraphic  wires  that  President  Lincoln  was  assas- 
sinated. I  was  then  at  work  in  mv  garden  upon  a  little 
place  near  the  city,  when  the  messenger  brought  the  tidings. 
I  think  such  a  shock  I  never  experienced.  It  seemed  to 
affect  my  whole  nervous  system.  The  next  day  (Sabbath) 
union  memorial  services  were  held  by  the  citizens  of  Clin- 
ton and  Lyons,  with  appropriate  addresses,  whilst  the  spirit 
of  deep  mourning  was  manifest  upon  every  countenance. 
Previous  to  this,  he  had  been  estimated  as  the  Nation's 
favorite,  but  on  that  memorable  morning,  the  fact  was 
engraven  upon  every  American  heart:  "  The  Nation's  Mar- 
tyr." The  summer  of  this  year  passed  very  pleasantly  in 
the  society  of  my  old  friends  on  this  charge,  and  I  used  my 
influence  as  a  retired  pastor  to  hold  up  the  hands  of  my 
successor  without  claiming  part  of  the  honors. 

I  must  here  state  a  little  circumstance  which  occurred 
upon  one  of  our  charges,  as  related  to  me  by  the  pastor. 
One  of  the  members  of  the  church,  very  low  with  con- 
sumption, sent  for  him  to  administer  comfort.  He  went  at 
once — for  he  was  the  man  to  honor  such  calls;  but  after 
entering  her  sick-room  she  was  under  the  painful  necessity 
of  requesting  him  to  retire.  Having  smoked  a  cigar  that 
morning,  she  was  unable  to  endure  the  odor  from  his 
person.  With  his  keen  sensibilities,  how  must  he  have  felt 
20 


290  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

returning  home  unable  to  administer  comfort  to  the  dying 
because  of  indulging  in  a  filthy  habit!  He  made  this  state- 
ment to  me  with  tears,  and  assured  me  that  this  painful 
occurrence  had  wrought  a  perfect  cure. 

At  our  ensuing  conference  at  Tipton,  meeting  the  state 
agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  and 
he  being  very  anxious  that  I  should  enter  upon  this  work,  I 
consented,  and  within  a  short  time  received  my  commission 
from  New  York.  I  was  well  aware  that  this  position  would 
give  me  more  exercise  and  less  hard  study,  and  thereby 
contribute  to  my  general  health  as  well  as  enlarge  my 
sphere  of  usefulness.  In  this  I  was  not  mistaken.  During 
the  years  employed  in  this  interest,  I  had  not  a  sick  day, 
and  what  a  field  it  opened  before  me  for  usefulness!  Not 
only  did  it  furnish  a  fine  opportunity  for  extended  acquaint- 
ance among  our  ministers,  and  the  pleasure  of  rendering 
them  assistance,  but  it  brought  me  into  intimate  relation 
with  the  ministers  and  members  of  other  churches;  as  the 
blessed  Bible  was  the  friend  of  all,  and  all  equally  inter- 
ested in  its  circulation.  Such  a  work  as  this  is  well  calcu- 
lated to  enlarge  our  charity  and  good  will  towards  other 
branches  of  the  church,  and  narrow  down  our -sectarian 
views  in  reference  to  our  own.  Some  of  the  pleasantest 
acquaintances  formed  and  most  sacred  hours  enjoved  in  this 
service,  were  with  those  of  the  same  "  household  of  faith," 
though  known  by  a  different  name.  And  never  was  I  intro- 
duced so  practically  to  this  fact:  that  the  more  we  become 
acquainted  with  each  other,  the  less  of  the  spirit  of  selfish- 
ness shall  we  cherish.  The  Bible  furnishing  such  a  broad 
"  platform  "  that  all  can  stand  upon  it,  and  a  heritage  so 
rich  and  full  that  all  can  invest  in  it,  and  hopes  so  immor- 
tal that  all  alike  can  cherish — like  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to 
different  regiments  of  the  Union,  we  can  all  rally  around 
this  standard,  God^s  precious  truth^  and  feel  that  we  are 
heirs  to  the  same  rich  and  glorious  inheritance.  I  entered 
at  once  upon  this  work  after  my  appointment,  and  as  the 


TRIBUTE     TO     W.     F.     PAXTOX.  291 

Apostles  after  having  obtained  their  divine  commission 
commenced  at  "Jerusalem,"  it  was  meet  for  me  at  this 
juncture  to  grasp  the  weapons  of  this  warfare  where  I  first 
laid  them  down.  It  was  at  Maquoketa  where  my  health 
first  failed,  and  where  for  a  season  I  was  laid  aside,  and  Here  1 
preach  my  first  Bible  sermon  as  agent  of  that  society. 
Here  I  found  Rev.  W.  Frank  Paxton  and  his  excellent  com- 
panion stationed  at  this  place,  who  gave  me  such  a  hearty 
welcome  in  my  introduction  to  this  work  that  the  recollec- 
tion is  precious  to  this  day.  How  different  the  effect  of 
such  a  reception  upon  human  hearts,  than  that  of  a  cold 
shoulder  and  a  closed  door!  At  once  I  felt  at  home,  and 
during  my  stay,  if  the  work  had  been  his  own,  he  could  not 
have  manifested  deeper  interest;  and  as  a  result  the  efforts 
were  crowned  with  success. 

Perhaps  upon  no  future  page  shall  I  have  a  better 
place  for  a  short  sketch  of  Brother  Paxton  than  here.  He 
was  born  and  reared  in  Gettysburg,  Penn.;  graduated  at 
Pennsylvania  college,  a  Lutheran  institution  of  learning  in 
that  place,  in  1855.  He  taught  two  or  three  years  in  Balti- 
more Female  college,  and  joined  the  Upper  Iowa  confer- 
ence in  1858.  Eight  years  he  has  served  the  church  as 
presiding  elder — four  on  the  Fayette  and  four  on  the  Daven- 
port district,  and  one  year  as  agent  of  Cornell  college. 
Sister  Paxton  is  of  pure  Yankee  stock,  born  in  Great  Barring- 
ton,  Mass.,  and  was  married  to  Brother  Paxton  in  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  in  1860.  Three  daughters  and  one  son  now  constitute 
the  younger  members  of  this  household.  Since  that  meet- 
ing in  Maquoketa,  our  pastoral  work  being  contiguous,  I 
have  ever  met  with  the  same  warm  greeting  in  my  associa- 
tions with  his  family,  and  always  consider  it  a  great  pleas- 
ure to  enjoy  their  society  and  hospitality.  As  a  preacher, 
his  flow  of  language  is  easy,  his  words  well  chosen,  his  ser- 
mons well  arranged,  and  rich  in  thought,  and  in  many 
instances  reach  the  standard  of  genuine  eloquence.  In 
listening  to  his  discourses,  no  one  will  doubt  but  they  have 


292  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

passed  through  the  ordeal  of  hard  study.  As  a  man  socially, 
he  is  genial  in  his  spirit,  warm  in  his  attachments,  and 
enduring  in  his  friendships.  Brother  Paxton  is  now  in  the 
prime  of  life — many  years  of  usefulness  prospectively  be- 
fore him,  and  should  his  future  record  bear  a  proportionate 
comparison  with  the  past,  he  may  yet  reach  a  position  where 
his  divinity  may  be  crowned  with  "  doctor."  Should  he  ever 
reach  this  point,  I  doubt  not  the  honor  will  be  patiently 
borne. 

In  leaving  Maquoketa  I  passed  on  to  the  circuit  traveled 
by  Rev.  James  H.  Todd.  He  lived  in  the  town  of  Andrew, 
then  the  county-seat  of  Jackson  county.  He  had  written 
me  to  visit  his  charge,  present  the  Bible  cause,  and  assist 
him  in  protracted  services.  I  gladly  acceded  to  his  re- 
quest, and  remained  with  him  during  the  week.  Here  was 
another  instance  of  remarkable  memory.  He  would  listen 
to  a  sermon,  and  the  next  week  preach  the  same,  almost 
word  for  word.  Had  he  been  as  eminent  in  piety  as  in 
memory  he  might  have  shone  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude; 
but  lacking  this,  his  ministerial  history  has  been  more  like 
the  comet  than  the  planet.  Whilst  I  remained  with  him,  I 
used  all  of  my  influence  to  induce  him  to  raise  a  high  Chris- 
tian standard,  and  labor  to  excel  in  the  "  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ."  But  I  have  found  in  my  ex- 
perience that  some  men  are  very  much  like  a  peculiar  kind 
of  timber — you  may  line  and  hew  and  plane  and  shape  it 
to  your  notion,  but  in  a  short  time  it  has  so  warped  and 
sprung  out  of  shape  that  you  are  forced  to  abandon  it  alto- 
gether. Thus  it  is  with  some  types  of  human  character.  If 
we  could  keep  them  under  the  press  of  religious  influence 
all  the  while,  they  might  be  able  to  maintain  their  Christian 
integrity;  but  just  so  soon  as  they  come  in  contact  with 
other  influences,  they  so  crook  up,  QT  flat  out,  that  there  is 
no  suitable  place  for  them  in  the  spiritual  building.  And 
just  so  long  as  human  hearts  are  under  the  influence  of 
sinful  passions,  we  shall  find  just  such  subjects  and  experi- 


REV.     .T.     \V .     CLINTON.  293 

ences.  I  have  often  thought  that  Father  Gruber's  penitent 
fitly  represents  this  class  above  named,  and  his  prayer  a 
complete  fit  in  every  respect.  Meeting  one  of  them  at  the 
altar,  at  camp-meeting,  and  knowing  that  he  professed  con- 
version anew  at  every  big  meeting,  this  old  veteran  preacher 
concluded  to  offer  a  sharp  and  appropriate  prayer.  Thus 
he  told  the  Lord  all  about  his  penitent,  how  many  times  he 
had  professed  religion,  and  how  many  times  he  had  back- 
slidden; how  he  had  abused  mercy,  again  and  again,  and 
"here  he  is  at  this  altar  once  more,  seeking  for  divine 
favor."  The  old  elder  then  prayed  to  the  Lord,  "  if  he  saw 
in  his  infinite  wisdom  that  grace  could  not  keep  him,  to  kill 
him  and  take  him  right  home  to  heaven;  for  if  he  did  not 
go  there  from  a  camp-meeting  it  was  very  doubtful  if  he 
would  ever  reach  there."  The  subsequent  history  of  this 
man  I  cannot  trace,  but  I  venture  to  say  that  in  memory's 
store-house  that  prayer  of  "  Father  Gruber"  long  held  a 
place. 

It  can  hardly  be  expected  that  in  a  work  so  extensive  as 
that  of  the  Bible  agent,  he  could  embrace  all  the  facts 
and  incidents  occurring,  for  this  would  require  another  such 
a  volume;  but  the  opportunity  of  advocating  such  a  cause 
as  this  for  three  or  four  years,  to  half  of  the  population  of 
Iowa,  was  a  privilege  which  I  regard  as  among  the  first 
in  my  ministerial  life.  As  my  congregations  were  generally 
large  and  intelligent,  the  inspiring  motive  would  often  lift 
me  above  myself,  so  that  I  felt  that  I  stood  upon  an  emi- 
nence not  only  elevated  in  position  but  influential  in  its 
consequences.  How  often  did  the  Divine  Master  honor  his 
own  word  and  send  the  promised  blessing  down!  Associ- 
ated with  me  in  the  Bible  work  as  helpers,  were  Rev.  Z.  D. 
Scoby,  G.  W.  Jenkins,  Levi  H.  Hale,  and  Rev.  S.  W.  Ingham. 
These  were  faithful  and  industrious  men,  and  rendered  me 
valuable  service  in  promoting  the  interests  of  this  cause. 
It  is  to  me  a  pleasant  and  grateful  reflection  to  this  day, 
that  I  ever  found  the  members  of  our  conference  and  min- 


294       THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

isters  of  other  churches  ready  to  co-operate  with  me  in  my 
visits  to  their  several  charges,  and  the  friendly  aid  furnished 
me  yet  stands  a  memorial  of  interest  in  the  book  of  remem- 
brance. At  our  institutions  of  learning,  also,  the  first  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  Rev.  R.  Norton  and  President  King  gave  me  an 
open  door  and  a  wide  field,  and  at  Fayette,  Brother  P.  E. 
Brown  and  Prof.  Brush  contributed  to  make  our  meeting 
a  complete  success.  At  Waverly  I  found  Rev.  F.  X.  Miller 
waiting  on  the  platform  for  his  presiding  elder,  D.  N. 
Holmes;  but  as  he  did  not  come,  I  was  elected  in  his  place; 
and  thus  the  transformation  from  a  Bible  agent  to  a  pre- 
siding elder  was  soon  effected  without  injury  to  either 
party.  It  was  here  that  I  first  met  Rev.  John  W.  Clinton,  at 
this  quarterly  meeting  at  Waverly.  He  was  then  teaching 
school  at  Janesville,  and  just  initiated  into  American 
usages.  During  the  progress  of  my  discourse  on  Sunday 
morning,  he  appeared  for  a  while  to  assume  the  attitude  of 
a  sharp  critic,  but  in  a  little  time  I  saw  the  big  tear  coursing 
down  his  cheek,  and  then  I  knew  I  was  safe.  How  many 
times,  under  similar  circumstances,  have  I  seen  the  pencil 
drop,  when  the  spiritual  thrill  reached  the  heart  and  the 
tears  unbidden  flowed.  And  thus  it  was  with  him.  His 
critical  mischief,  which  a  few  moments  before  I  could  sec 
written  all  over  his  countenance,  soon  changed  into  reflect- 
ive soberness,  and  the  boy  became  a  man.  It  has  always 
been  my  delight  in  the  ministry  to  capture  critics  in  this 
way,  for  they  invariably  deliver  up  the  pruning-knife  and 
become  my  fast  friends.  All  this  I  realized  in  his  case;  for 
within  a  short  time  I  stood  in  his  own  pulpit  at  Janesville, 
inspired  with  his  confidence  and  the  prayers  of  his  people. 
Fifteen  years  have  passed  since  that  introduction,  but,  like 
his  ministerial  progress,  our  friendship  has  grown  into  ma- 
turity, and  the  chances  are  now  that  it  will  last  forever. 

At  Waverly  I  made  my  homc^  at  Brother  and  Sister 
Miller's  for  some  weeks,  he  furnishing  me  a  horse  and  car- 
riage for  my  Bible  work;  and  in  this  relation  I  felt  very  much 


F.     X.     MILLER     AND     R.SWEARINGEN.          295 

as  though  it  were  my  own  home.  The  face  of  Sister  Miller 
reflects  domestic  sunshine  wherever  she  goes,  and  "  blessed 
is  that  minister  who  is  in  such  a  case."  Brother  F.  X.  Miller 
was  very  popular  and  successful  in  Waverly,  and  in  the 
sphere  of  usefulness  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference  he  has 
made  an  honorable  record. 

At  Decorah  I  met  Brother  R.  Swearingen,  who  dates  back 
to  my  early  acquaintance  in  Iowa.  I  knew  him  when  a  boy 
in  experience,  when  I  reached  out  to  him  a  helping  hand, 
and  now  he  reciprocates  by  helping  me  in  my  work.  He 
no  longer  needs  the  leading  hand  of  his  elder  brethren,  as 
when  I  first  knew  him,  but  he  stands  forth,  in  battle  array, 
a  hero  in  the  defense  of  truth,  capturing  his  enemy's  artil- 
lery, and  then  shelling  them  in  their  flight;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  one  drawn  battle  in  his  theological  campaign,  he 
might  have  stood  forth  a  champion  in  the  fight.  But  even 
with  this  short  halt^  in  his  onward  march,  Brother  Swear- 
ingen stands  to-day  a  living  witness  as  to  what  may  be  ac- 
complished bv  steady  perseverance.  He  has  received  the 
highest  honors  within  the  gift  of  his  conference,  and  such 
are  his  powers  of  endurance  that  they  have  been  borne 
without  serious  injury.  I  trust  that  when  the  Master  calls, 
the  "shock  of  corn  will  be  fully  ripe."  Though  it  would 
aiford  me  great  pleasure,  I  have  refrained  from  mentioning 
the  names  and  pleasant  associations  with  ministers  of  other 
churches.  In  a  work  of  this  kind  a  proper  tribute  would 
take  up  too  much  space;  but  though  passed  by  in  silence, 
they  still  live  in  my  confidence  and  affections,  and  I  soon 
expect  to  hail  them  as  brethren  and  fellow-laborers  in  a 
purer  clime. 

It  was  during  my  labors  for  the  American  Bible  society 
that  I  was  induced  to  make  a  small  purchase  of  real  estate 
in  the  state  of  Michigan.  My  only  sister,  Olive,  living  near 
Benton  Harbor,  and  my  mother  wishing  to  visit  her,  I  ac- 
companied her  to  the  place.  This  was  at  that  season  of  the 
year  when  the  vast  peach  orchards  of  that  vicinity  were  in 


296  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

full  bloom.  Hundreds  of  acres  through  which  I  passed 
looked  like  one  continuous  bouquet,  and  I  was  perfectly  de- 
lighted with  the  sight.  At  that  time  the  peach  crop  was 
very  profitable  to  the  grower;  so  in  the  latter  part  of  the. 
summer  1866,  in  company  with  Perry  Perkins,  an  old  friend, 
we  made  a  purchase  of  about  seventeen  acres  at  Heath's 
Corners,  within  two  miles  of  Benton  Harbor,  and  two  and 
a  half  from  St.  Joseph.  The  year  following  I  erected  a 
house  on  my  twelve  acres,  and  since  that  time  I  have  called 
this  my  home.  Brother  Perkins  built  also  on  his,  and  re- 
sided in  the  state  for  several  years.  He  finally  sold  out  and 
returned  to  Colesburg,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides.  Such 
was  the  character  of  the  Bible  work,  keeping  me  constantly 
on  the  move,  nearly  all  the  time  away  from  home,  that  I 
had  but  little  time  for  rest  or  social  enjoyment,  and  no  time 
for  study;  so  I  concluded  to  ask  a  release,  which  the  parent 
society  granted  six  months  after  my  resignation.  I  was 
succeeded  by  Brother  Chambers,  a  member  of  our  con- 
ference. In  the  fall  of  1869,  I  entered  again  into  the  pas- 
toral relation,  and  received  my  appointment  at  Le  Claire, 
with  Rev.  Emory  Miller  for  my  presiding  elder.  The  work 
and  interests  of  this  station  will  furnish  history  for  our  next 
chapter. 


CHAPTER     XXXVIII. 

As  I  sit  down  to  enter  upon  this  chapter,  March  25, 1881, 
I  am  reminded  of  the  changes  in  personal  history  within  a 
short  time.  Only  a  few  days  since  I  was  writing  a  short 
tribute  to  Rev.  Joel  B.  Taylor,  in  this  .volume,  expecting 
soon  to  see  him  in  his  own  home;  but  to-day  I  am  recording 
his  removal  from  us.  A  few  days  later,  he  was  conversing 
with  me  by  letter,  encouraging  me  in  my  task,  and  perhaps 
at  this  very  time  some  dear  friend  may  be  penning  his 


LK  CLAIRE PROSPEROUS  YEAR.       297 

obituary.  A  long  life  he  gave  to  the  service  of  his  Master, 
and  now  he  has  passed  on  to  learn  something  about  the  other 
side.  Twenty  years  previous  to  my  appointment  at  Le  Claire, 
when  stationed  at  Davenport,  I  visited  this  little  town  to 
preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  one  of  its  oldest  inhabitants, 
Brother  Taylor  then  being  their  pastor,  but  now  I  am  in- 
troduced to  new  scenes  and  new  friendships.  The  little 
group  of  houses  has  grown  into  a  thriving  village,  and  the 
few  citizens  are  multiplied  to  hundreds;  but  it  matters 
not;  the  minister's  work  is  not  to  draw  a  map  of  changes, 
but  to  save  souls.  Yes,  wherever  he  drives  his  stakes  and 
pitches  his  tent  he  writes  upon  his  canvas,  "  I  am  here  to 
seek  and  save  that  which  was  lost."  With  this  motto,  I 
entered  into  the  work  of  this  charge,  and  within  a  few 
months  the  chapel  and  altar  were  crowded  with  interested 
hearers  and  anxious  inquirers.  The  means  employed  to 
reach  gracious  results  in  works  of  this  kind  may  be  various, 
but  the  elements  of  success  are  always  the  same.  "  Not  by 
might,  not  by  wisdom  or  human  eloquence,  but  by  my  Spirit, 
saith  the  Lord."  If  I  ever  depended  upon  this  d-ivine  agent, 
it  was  here  in  this  effort  at  this  time.  The  meeting  con- 
tinued for  some  weeks  with  little  abatement  of  interest,  and 
quite  an  accession  was  made  to  the  church,  and  all  of  its 
interests  advanced.  Brother  Emory  Miller,  the  presiding 
elder  of  Davenport  district,  residing  here,  rendered  me  valu- 
able aid,  as  well  as  Rev.  .1.  H.  Rigby,  laboring  upon  an  ad- 
joining charge.  Their  ministerial  assistance  was  not  only 
highly  appreciated,  but  their  social  friendships  gave  sacred 
relish  to  many  a  passing  hour.  Often,  when  weary  with 
study  at  Sister  Brotherlin's,  my  pleasant  home,  would  I  step 
into  Brother  and  Sister  Miller's,  where  an  open  door  and  a 
hearty  welcome  were  always  in  readiness;  and  the  children, 
catching  the  same  spirit,  seemed  to  regard  my  visits  as  a 
kind  of  cheerful  ovation.  What  can  be  more  pleasing  and 
appropriate  for  those  who  profess  to  be  training  for  heaven, 
than  the  cultivation  of  such  feelings  and  habits  here,  typical 


298  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  that  pure  and  holy  society  into  which  we  shall  enter, 
made  up  of  those  who  "  walk  with  the  Saviour  in  white." 
Certainly  there  should  be  a  close  correspondence  between 
the  earthly  and  the  heavenly  kingdom. 

The  friends  of  my  acquaintance  all  know  of  my  attach- 
ment to  children;  and  this  reminds  me  of  a  remark  made 
by  Brother  Miller  to  me  as  we  were  returning  from  Sunday- 
school  where  I  had  addressed  them.  This  was  his  remark: 
"  Brother  Taylor,  the  secret  of  your  success  in  talking  to 
children  is  because  you  love  them."  A  truer  remark  could 
not  have  been  made;  and  because  of  this  I  treasured  it  up 
in  my  memory.  Is  it  not  this  love  which  gives  inspiration 
to  our  efforts  and  leads  us  on  to  success?  If  a  man  love 
his  companion  he  will  spare  no  pains  to  minister  to  her  hap- 
piness; if  a  man  love  his  neighbor,  in  many  instances  he 
will  serve  him  at  his  own  expense;  and  if  a  man  love  Christ, 
not  unfrequently  will  he  plant  the  Cross  in  sickly  climes, 
whilst  at  its  foot  he  finds  a  grave,  upon  which  we  read  this 
inscription:  "  Let  a  thousand  fall,  before  Africa  shall  be 
given  up."  How  often  have  I  thought  of  the  impressions 
made  upon  the  minds  of  those  children  which  Jesus  took  up 
in  his  arms  and  blessed.  Those  too  young  to  remember  it. 
as  they  grew  up  to  years  were  informed  by  the  father  or 
mother  that  the  world's  Redeemer  honored  them  thus.  I 
doubt  not  that  this  was  the  crowning  event  in  their  life's  his- 
tory. I  am  sure,  were  this  true  in  my  own  case,  I  would 
tell  it  whilst  living,  lisp  it  when  dying,  and  praise  him  in 
richer  strains  for  it  with  an  immortal  tongue.  In  this 
charge  we  had  a  very  prosperous  Sunday-school,  with  an 
excellent  superintendent,  Brother  James  Davenport.  And 
this  was  one  of  the  secrets  of  its  interest;  his  whole  soul 
was  engaged  in  its  success.  Many  were  the  happy  hours 
passed  in  its  delightful  exercises,  and  many  of  its  scholars 
during  our  revival  became  subjects  of  saving  grace. 

This  charge  at  this  date  had  but  two  appointments — one 
in  the  village  of  LeClaire  and  one  at  Pleasant  Valley,  five 


MERCY     AT     THE     LAST EMORY     MILLER.     299 

miles  out  in  the  country,  where  I  preached  every  Sunday 
afternoon.  Here  we  had  some  noble  brethren,  a  very  good 
chapel,  and  an  interesting  Sunday-school.  On  the  way  out  to 
this  appointment,  lived  Sister  Stone,  whose  husband  was 
taken  very  sick.  He  was  a  very  pleasant  man,  but,  like 
many  others,  he  was  a  stranger  to  saving  grace.  On  my 
way  I  called  to  see  him  from  time  to  time,  and  labored  dili- 
gently to  lead  him  to  Christ.  Brother  Miller  also  visited 
him  with  me,  and  prayed  with  him;  but  he  found  no 
rest  in  believing.  Calling  on  him  again,  I  saw  that  he  must 
be  saved  soon  if  saved  at  all — and  I  proposed  to  Sister 
Stone  to  unite  with  me  once  more,'  for  this  was  the  last  and 
telling  hour.  Before  prayer,  Mr.  Stone  being  very  low,  I 
urged  upon  him  the  necessity  of  a  total  surrender  into  the 
hands  of  an  All-Mighty  Saviour;  and  here  was  one  of 
those  peculiar  manifestations  not  often  experienced  in  min- 
isterial history.  As  I  began  pleading  for  his  salvation, 
such  were  the  exercises  of  my  mind  that'  I  could  not  close 
my  prayer  without  a  clear  evidence  that  he  was  saved.  And 
that  witness  came  as  clear  as  the  noon-day  sun.  When  I 
arose  from  my  knees  he  was  rejoicing  in  the  knowledge  of 
his  sins  forgiven,  and  shortly  died  in  the  blessed  assurance 
of  eternal  life.  In  this  case  I  had  another  evidence  of  the 
folly  of  prolonging  a  preparation  for  death  until  the  dying 
hour. 

Brother  Rigby,  whose  name  is  mentioned  above  as  one 
of  my  helpers  during  our  revival,  had  but  just  entered  the 
ministry.  This  was  his  first  year  in  our  conference.  Hav- 
ing graduated  at  Mt.Vernon,and  there  received  his  license 
to  preach,  I  was  permitted  to  hear  his  first  sermon,  and  now 
he  sustains  to  me  the  relation  of  colleague,  as  we  were 
mutual  helpers  to  each  other.  I  was  an  old  minister  and 
he  a  young  one,  but  such  was  his  congenial  and  flexible 
spirit,  that  I  could  not  have  felt  any  more  at  home  in  com- 
pany with  a  man  of  my  age.  Though  a  good  scholar  and 
deep  thinker,  he  put  on  no  airs,  no  assumption  of  arro- 


300  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

gance;  but  he  was  meek  and  humble,  ever  ready  to  receive 
instruction,  even  from  a  child.  With  such  a  spirit,  you  will 
not  be  surprised  when  I  say  that  he  improved  rapidly  as  a 
public  speaker  during  the  year,  was  very  much  beloved, 
and  his  labors  abundantly  blessed.  This  truthful  tribute 
to  his  memory,  I  give  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  and  in 
looking  to  the  future  assign  him  one  of  the  prominent  posi- 
tions in  ministerial  rank. 

Until  my  present  relation  to  our  presiding  elder,  I  had 
but  little  personal  acquaintance.  I  had  heard  him  preach 
but  once,  when  I  was  stationed  at  Iowa  City,  but  I  was 
aware  that  he  was  moving  on  the  ascending  plane.  Now 
our  present  relations  were  such  that  I  had  a  fine  oppor- 
tunity to  know  the  man.  Brother  Miller  was  wise  and  very 
skillful  as  a  preacher.  In  his  ordinary  efforts  there  was 
nothing  marked  nor  unusual — a  little  slow  constitutionally 
in  his  movements;  but  upon  important  occasions,  when  the 
interest  was  such  as  to  draw  him  out,  he  excelled.  He  had 
a  discourse  all  ready  and  prepared  for  such  an  assembly, 
and  seldom  failed  in  the  object  in  view.  In  some  instances 
he  rose  to  an  elevation  in  sublime  eloquence  that  I  never 
knew  surpassed  by  our  most  eminent  men.  In  his  perora- 
tions he  often  reminded  me  of  Castelar,  the  Spanish  orator, 
for  beauty  and  effect.  His  skill  was  manifest  in  another 
respect.  He  often  preached  the  same  sermon  to  different 
audiences,  but  in  almost  every  instance  I  noticed  that  it  was 
revised  and  enlarged  so  that  it  appeared  in  quite  a  new 
dress.  He  is  a  good  scholar,  a  close  student,  and  possesses 
a  very  comprehensive  mind.  And  yet  with  his  rare  talents, 
no  minister  in  the  conference  has  less  display.  His  brilliant 
mind  is  so  tempered  by  the  spirit  of  humility,  that  one 
would  think  that  he  considers  himself  the  "least  of  all 
saints;"  but  when  the  lion  is  roused  he  stands  forth  a  cham- 
pion for  the  truth.  He  has  been  gradually  rising  in  the 
confidence  of  the  brethren  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference, 
until  he  has  reached  the  highest  honors  within  theii  gift; 


UMMERFIELD     AND     BASCOM. 


301 


and  such  are  the  elements  in  his  character,  that  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  the  light  will  not  decline.  He  is  sta- 
tioned this  year  at  .Iowa  City,  one  of  my  former  charges, 
where  I  trust  he  will  be  still  gathering  laurels  to  perpetuate 
his  name  and  enrich  his  mansion  in  the.  heavenly  home. 

During  the  summer  of  this  year  (1870),  the  preachers  of 
the  district  all  repaired  to  the  feast  of  tabernacles  in  the 
grove  near  the  town  of  Camanche.  These  gatherings  may 
well  be  called  feasts  of  spiritual  enjoyment,  when  we  go  to 
them  for  this  purpose;  but  how  easily  defeated,  when  for 
mere  pleasure  or  pastime.  Being  called  upon  "  to  fire  the 
first  gun,"  I  discoursed  from  "Ye  shall  receive  power  after 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you."  We  had  an  inter- 
esting prayer-meeting  after  the  sermon;  but  shortly  after 
the  preachers  had  retired  to  rest  in  their  tent,  some  of  the 
fastenings  gave  way,  and  all  slid  together  in  a  heap.  In 
the  merriment  that  followed,  I  found  that  even  Methodist 
ministers  were  very  much  like  other  men,  if  not  a  little 
more  so,  when  they  gave  loose  reins  to  laughter,  and  when 
they  were  bent  upon  a  little  spree.  I  was  glad  that  even- 
ing that  the  glee  club  was  confined  to  the  ministers,  and 
that  they  were  the  only  ones  affected  by  the  sudden  catas- 
trophe; and  though  not  a  profitable  means  of  grace,  they 
understood  the  secret  of  praying  out.  This  sudden  reverse 
of  the  order  of  things  had  a  dissipating  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  the  ministers,  which  I  think  was  not  fully  regained 
for  some  days.  At  this  meeting  we  had  one  or  two  very 
able  sermons  on  the  Sabbath,  and  we  were  very  forcibly 
reminded  of  the  importance  of  appropriateness  in  the 
selection  of  subjects.  In  fact  very  much  of  our  success 
depends  upon  this.  One  of  our  ministers  took  for  his  text 
on  Sunday  afternoon:  "And  the  city  lieth  four-square."  I 
suppose  the  speaker  did  his  best  for  about  one  hour,  but  no 
one  was  interested;  and  if  the  sinner  had  depended  upon 
that  sermon  to  learn  his  way  into  the  kingdom  of  grace,  he 
would  have  groped  his  way  in  the  dark  for  a  long  time. 


302  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

After  the  discourse,  a  very  sensible  sister  said  to  me:  "What 
do  I  care  whether  the  city  is  square  or  round?  we  came 
here  to  learn  the  way  of  salvation."  How  hard  it  is  to 
divest  ourselves  entirely  of  the  idea  at  these  interesting 
gatherings,  that  we  must  preach  a  big  sermon^  that  the 
ministers  and  members  may  know  that  we  are  of  some  im- 
portance; when,  if  we  had  taken  some  plain  and  practical 
subject,  and  bent  all  of  our  energies  to  save  perishing  sin- 
ners, nothing  would  have  done  so  much  to  raise  us  in  the 
estimation  of  all  present.  When  God  is  fully  honored  in 
the  presentation  of  a  sermon,  it  requires  no  critic's  glass, 
or  doctor's  verdict,  to  reach  a  just  decision;  the  Spirit  is  its 
own  interpreter,  and  this  will  make  it  plain.  I  am  here 
reminded  of  a  simple  statement  given  me  by  an  aged  min- 
ister who  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  John  Summerfield  and 
Henry  B.  Bascom  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  on  the  same 
Sabbath.  Summerfield  preached  in  the  morning  and  chose 
for  his  text:  "Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in 
my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."  "When  he 
closed,"  said  the  minister,  "  the  whole  assembly  were  in 
tears,  and  completely  under  the  dominion  of  that  '  breath- 
less awe  that  dares  not  move,  and  all  the  silent  heaven  of 
love.'  As  the  congregation  were  passing  out,  one  said  to 
another:  'What  a  sermon!  Did  you  ever  hear  anything 
like  it?  What  angelic  sweetness,  and  what  a  feast  for  the 
soul!'"  In  the  afternoon  Bascom  stood  in  the  same  pulpit 
and  poured  forth  torrents  of  eloquence — of  which  he  was 
master,  until  the  vast  audience  were  almost  lost  in  astonish- 
ment. When  passing  out  of  the  church,  one  hearer  said 
to  another:  "What  a  man!"  Another  said  "We  have  but 
one  Bascom."  And  yet  another,  "  He  is  the  most  eloquent 
man  I  ever  heard."  Here,  then,  was  the  difference.  In  the 
first,  the  man  was  lost  in  the  sermon,  and  Christ  only  was 
seen.  In  the  second,  the  sermon  was  lost  in  the  man.  Be- 
tween the  two  we  are  not  at  a  loss  to  choose  our  model. 
Blessed  is  that  minister  who  can  truthfully  say:  "  But  I 


DEATH     OF     A     SCOFFER.  303 

labored  more  abundantly  than  they  all;    yet  not  I,  but  the 
grace  of  God  lohich  was  with  me" 

During  seasons  of  special  effort,  when  the  church  is  put- 
ting forth  all  its  energies  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  how 
often  are  we  brought  to  witness  exhibitions  of  judgment  as 
well  as  mercy.  It  was  so  here  at  this  camp-meeting.  In 
the  height  of  its  interest,  a  young  man  who  had  been  at- 
tending its  services  only  to  mock  and  revile,  must  needs 
show  his  defiant  spirit  to  all  gracious  influences  by  starting 
out  upon  a  horse-race  near  the  camp-ground,  when  his  horse 
stumbled  and  fell,  and  sent  him  into  eternity  in  a  moment. 
What  a  spectacle!  Only  a  few  hours  before,  he  was  seated 
near  the  altar  listening  to  calls  and  invitations  of  the  gospel; 
but  now,  by  his  associates  in  crime,  he  is  borne  to  his  last 
earthly  resting-place,  where  the  sound  of  the  gospel  is  not 
heard,  and  mercy's  offer  is  not  given.  What  a  warning  is 
this  to  all  who  "  slight  the  force  of  gospel  truth." 

i   "When  every  means  are  tried  in  vain, 

/      The  Spirit  strives  no  more  with  man ; 
Then  full  of  guilt  and  fear  and  pain, 
Death  strikes  the  blow,  the  sinner's  slain, 
And  sinks  to  endless  ruin" 

In  the  varied  services  of  this  year,  I  attended  several 
quarterly  meetings  for  Elder  Miller,  he  filling  my  appoint- 
ments in  the  station.  One  that  I  attended  at  Low  Moor,  I 
doubt  not,  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  my  labors  for  the  en- 
suing year.  Rev.  J.  B.  Taylor  was  on  this  charge,  and  this 
being  his  third  year,  the  people  became  interested  as  to 
their  coming  preacher;  and  as  the  service  of  the  meeting 
was  one  of  much  interest,  the  members  asked  for  .my  ap- 
pointment as  his  successor,  of  which  I  was  notified  at  this 
camp-meeting.  Not  that  I  had  anything  to  prefer  against 
the  good  friends  at  Le  Claire,  for  we  enjoyed  a  year  of  pros- 
perity, and  our  relations  were  of  the  most  pleasant  character 
from  first  to  last;  but  the  presiding  elder  yielding  to  the  re- 


304  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

quests  of  the  official  board  at  Low  Moor,  with  my  consent 
the  change  was  made  at  our  ensuing  conference,  and  my 
next  chapter  will  embrace  its  history. 


CHAPTER     XXXIX. 

As  the  vessel  starts  out  upon  its  conquests  on  the  ocean, 
no  one  can  predict  its  history.  The  storms  that  it  will  en- 
counter, the  enemies  that  it  will  meet,  the  rocks  to  which  it 
may  be  exposed,  its  reverses  or  successes,  no  historic  pen 
can  write.  Thus  it  is  as  we  start  out  upon  the  history  of  a 
pastoral  year.  Its  trials,  hardships,  joys,  sorrows,  conflicts 
and  victories  are  yet  to  be  experienced  and  understood. 
But  there  is  no  safety  in  casting  anchor  and  waiting  for 
calmer  seas  and  clearer  skies;  but  like  the  storm-bird  that 
arises  only  when  facing  the  storm,  thus,  whether  in  season 
or  out  of  season,  we  are  to  press  on,  until  the  rainbow  of 
hope  signalizes  that  the  tempest  is  behind  us,  and  the 
bright  and  shining  heavens  before  us.  And  what  a  cheer- 
ing thought,  that  no  cloud  is  so  dark  but  that  light  is  beyond 
it,  and  no  danger  so  threatening  but  that  Providence  can 
control  it.  In  this  respect  all  fields  of  ministerial  labor 
stand  upon  the  same  level,  and  the  sentiment  of  the  poet 
holds  true  in  them  all:  "Joy  to  find  in  every  station,  some- 
thing still  to  do  or  bear;"  and  whether  in  the  desert  waste 
or  in  the  city  full,  Christ  must  be  honored,  the  gospel  must 
be  preached,  and  souls  must  be  saved.  This  was  the  banner 
which  I  bore  in  entering  upon  this  new  field  of  labor,  and 
the  inscription  thereupon  written:  "  So  much  as  in  me  is,  I 
am  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  to  you."  And  is  it  not 
strange  that  though  these  old  truths  have  been  repeated 
over  and  over  again,  for  thousands  of  years,  the  interest  is 
not  lessened  nor  the  power  diminished!  And  this  truth 


CONFIDENCE     BETRAYED.  305 

will  forever  remain,  so  long  as  man  has  spiritual  wants  and 
the  gospel  only  can  supply  them. 

After  passing  a  few  rounds  on  this  charge  of  three  |\ 
appointments,  I  commenced  a  series  of  meetings  at  what 
was  called  Hatfield's  School-house,  and  I  pressed  the  siege 
from  day  to  day,  and  from  week  to  week,  until  the  close  of 
the  third  week,  and  then  wound  up  with  little  visible  suc- 
cess. During  its  greatest  interest,  I  learned  that  a  husking- 
bee  and  a  dance  following  at  night  was  to  come  off,  and 
knowing  its  deathly  influence  upon  the  interests  of  the 
meeting,  I  visited  the  lady  of  the  house  and  besought  her, 
in  view  of  the  cause  of  Christ  and  the  credit  of  her  family, 
as  well  as  the  community,  to  desist  from  the  dancing,  assur- 
ing her  that  I  would  use  all  of  mv  influence,  and  turn  in 
and  husk  corn  myself  through  the  day,  if  she  would  stop 
the  dance.  She  promised  that  she  would,  and  I  faithfully 
kept  my  word,  and  the  corn  was  husked.  But  to  my  morti- 
fication and  her  shame,  the  dance  came  off,  after  all.  Is  it 
any  surprise  to  my  readers  that  the  gracious  Lord  withheld 
his  blessing  after  such  a  base  violation  of  sacred  obliga- 
tions? I  have  witnessed  many  mean  things  in  my  life,  but 
this  was  one  for  which  I  have  no  apology.  Never  was  time 
more  faithfully  spent,  neither  the  gospel  more  pointedly 
preached,  but,  like  Alexander  in  the  work  of  the  Apostle, 
"she  did  me  much  evil;  the  Lord  reward  her  according  to 
her  works." 

At  the  close  of  this  meeting  I  found  a  very  pleasant 
home  for  tne  year  in  the  family  of  Brother  and  Sister  Kist- 
ner,  who  were  old  members  on  this  work.  How  often  the 
spiritual  progress  of  the  pastor's  labors  are  retarded,  and 
that  seriously,  by  being  obliged  to  turn  aside  to  grapple 
with  financial  interests.  It  was  the  case  here.  A  new 
chapel  had  been  recently  built,  and  it  was  reported  when  I 
entered  upon  this  charge  that  all  of  its  indebtedness  had 
been  met,  and  the  field  was  clear.  But  in  less  than  six 
weeks  the  officers  came  and  threatened  to  levy  upon  the 
21 


306  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

church  unless  a  claim  of  about  four  hundred  dollars  was 
immediately  satisfied.  This  was  rather  a  backset,  after  a 
few  faithful  brethren  had  been  so  heavily  taxed  previously; 
but  there  was  no  retreating  from  this  obligation,  and  so  1 
called  a  meeting  of  the  brethren  to  see  what  could  be  done, 
Brother  Joel  B.  Taylor,  their  former  pastor,  meeting  with 
us.  At  this  meeting  we  divided  the  amount  into  thirty- 
dollar  shares,  of  which  the  pastors  took  each  one,  with  the 
brethren,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  raise  the  balance. 
This  was  the  work  of  most  the  entire  year,  and  when  we  saw 
the  end,  we  felt  like  thanking  God  and  taking  courage.  My 
appointment  at  Low  Moor  was  rather  peculiar  in  another 
respect.  It  contained  a  strange  and  fearful  history,  never 
to  be  forgotten  by  the  inhabitants  who  witnessed  it,  and 
often  referred  to  with  as  much  interest  as  though  it  had 
just  passed.  It  was  here  that  the  terrific  tornado  passed 
through  which  nearly  destroyed  Camanche  and  New  Albany 
in  the  year  1860,  and  its  effects  were  visible  on  every  hand. 
If  ever  conversation  flagged,  the  citizens  could  find  some 
inspiring  incident  in  connection  with  that  storm.  Rev.  S. 
C.  Freer,  who  was  then  stationed  at  Camanche,  writes  me 
that  he  had  closed  his  sermon  at  a  country  appointment, 
and  as  he  started  for  home  he  saw  the  danger  approaching. 
His  animal,  as  if  infused  with  the  spirit  of  the  coming 
event,  made  double  speed,  and  reached  home  sooner  than 
usual.  He  had  just  put  away  his  horse  and  buggy,  entered 
his  house  and  sat  down,  when  the  destroyer  came.  The 
kitchen  was  blown  down,  the  barn  demolished,  but  the 
horse  was  not  injured.  The  buggy  under  the  shed  adjoin- 
ing the  barn  was  not  disturbed,  and  though  in  great  danger, 
"not  a  hair  of  their  heads  was  injured."  Had  he  come 
from  his  appointment  at  the  usual  rate  of  traveling,  he 
would  have  been  in  the  very  path  of  the  storm,  and  escape 
impossible.  The  house  nearest  to  his  was  blown  to  atoms 
and  everything  destroyed  but  a  rifle.  "A  German,  keeping 
a  store  in  the  place,  with  more  or  less  liquor,  said  to  a 


TORNADO  ITS     FEARFUL     WORK.  307 

young  man  leaving  for  safety  as  the  storm  was  near:  c  Old'V 
God  is  going  to  do  some  of  his  fancy  work  now;'  when  in 
less  than  one  minute  the  building  was  in  ruins,  only  two  of 
the  family  escaping.  He  was  one  of  the  last  taken  from 
the  ruins  in  the  city,  and  his  body  found  lying  upon  a  bar- 
rel of  whisky.  Twenty-nine  persons  were  killed  and  eighty 
wounded  at  that  place.  Many  families  in  the  best  of  cir- 
cumstances in  the  morning,  before  sundown  were  left  desti- 
tute and  homeless."  The  different  pastors  along  the  line  of 
the  track  took  especial  pains  to  gather  interesting  items, 
and  among  them  was  this:  that  of  about  two  hundred  killed 
and  badly  wounded,  not  one  devoted  Christian  sustained 
serious  injury.  I  had  just  returned  from  my  trip  to  the 
Rocky  mountains  when  this  report  was  made  by  the  several 
pastors,  and  the  providence  was  so  remarkable  that  I  noted 
it  down.  How  true  it  is  that  "  He  that  dwelleth  in  the 
secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Almighty.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy 
side,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not 
come  nigh  thee."  This  was  the  faith  of  the  Psalmist,  and 
this  is  the  faith  of  the  writer.  It  is  as  easy  for  the  Almighty 
to  preserve  the  Christian  in  the  storm  as  to  protect  Daniel 
in  the  den  of  lions.  And  that  his  preserving  care  was  seen 
at  that  time  in  the  deliverance  of  his  saints,  no  one  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstances  can  deny.  In  addition  to 
the  case  of  Brother  Freer  and  family,  I  will  note  one  or 
two  others,  among  the  many. 

Brother  Kistner,  with  whom  I  boarded  for  the  year,  see-\ 
ing  the  tornado  approaching,  proposed  to  his  wife,  recently  / 
confined — occupying  the  bed-room,  that  they  should  all  go 
down  cellar  as  the  safest  place.     "  No,"  said  Sister  K.,  "all 
come  into  this  bed-room.     God  can  save  us  here  as  well  as 
in  the    cellar."     Hardly  had   they  grouped  together  when 
destruction  came.     The  barn,  the   house,  all  but  the  bed- 
room were  scattered  in  a   moment  to   the  winds.     Though 
their  room  was  shattered  much,  and  its  floor  covered  with 


308  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

debris  some  five  or  six  inches  in  depth,  the  shell  of  the 
room  still  stood  as  a  protection  from  the  blast,  and  not 
a  soul  received  the  least  injury.  The  little  babe,  but  a  few 
days  old,  was  whirled  out  of  its  mother's  arms  and  buried 
amidst  the  rubbish,  but  it  was  recovered  safe  and  sound. 
After  the  storm  it  was  found  that  the  ruins  of  the  barn  filled 
the  cellar,  with  their  horse  in  the  midst,  looking  very  wish- 
ful for  freedom,  but  uninjured.  This  proved  the  wisdom  of 
the  mother's  decision,  as  divinely  directed.  One  more,  no 
less  striking. 

Rev.  Mr.  Williams  (I  think  this  is  the  name),  stationed  at 
New  Albany,  Illinois,  like  Brother  Fre'er,  had  been  out  to 
a  country  appointment,  but  returned  home  when  the  storm 
was  past.  Hurrying  as  fast  as  possible,  with  intense  inter- 
est, when  he  reached  his  residence  he  found  naught  but  a 
pile  of  brick.  As  he  rode  up,  what  must  have  been  his 
feelings,  as  he  supposed  that  his  wife  and  children  were 
buried  in  the  ruins.  Almost  overwhelmed  with  the  pres- 
sure, a  voice  came  out  from  beneath  the  brick- pile:  "Hus- 
band, do  thyself  no  harm;  we  are  all  here."  Sister  Will- 
iams was  one  of  those  consecrated  women,  who  fully 
trusted  God,  and  when  she  saw  their  condition,  she  said  to 
her  children,  "we  will  take  refuge  in  our  large  wood-box 
in  the  room  and  cover  it  over,  and  the  falling  brick  will  not 
injure  us."  She  did  so,  and  when  her  husband  arrived — as 
she  had  been  listening  for  his  horse's  footsteps — she  was  as 
safely  housed  as  if  in  her  cozy  parlor.  I  need  not  say  that 
those  brick  enclosing  the  precious  treasure,  flew  rapidly, 
until  freedom  and  affection  met  there  and  embraced.  And 
who  dare  say  that  Sister  Williams  was  not  directed  by  a 
kind  and  wise  Providence.  These  were  some  of  the  inter- 
esting relations  of  remarkable  deliverances,  during  my 
labors  among  this  people;  and  yet  notwithstanding  this  ter- 
rible visitation,  the  ungodly  seemed  rather  hardened  than 
improved. 
X  When  a  young  man,  residing  in  the  state  of  New  York,  I 


CHEMTJNG  VALLEY REV.  S.  C.  FREER.   309 

witnessed  what  few  have  the  privilege  to  see.  It  was  one 
of  the  grandest  displays  of  the  origin  of  tornadoes  which 
can  be  imagined.  My  grandfather's  residence — my  home — 
was  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  Chemung  valley  for  a 
distance  of  seven  or  eight  miles.  On  either  side  of  this 
valley  was  a  range  of  hills  running  nearly  east  and  west. 
I  suppose,  by  some  means,  at  this  time  (the  first  of  June)  •[ 
that  the  air  became  overheated,  beyond  that  of  the  sur- 
rounding hills,  and  the  colder  air  rushed  in  to  supply  its 
place.  The  first  indication  of  anything  unnatural,  was 
about  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  weather  being  very 
sultry,  when  we  saw  those  light  swiftly-flying  clouds  com- 
ing from  different  points  of  the  compass,  meeting  within 
about  one  mile  of  our  residence.  As  they  met,  they  formed 
at  first  a  small  black  cloud,  which  was  in  constant  commo- 
tion, from  the  different  currents  of  air.  As  these  swift  . 
ones  increased,  the  cloud  became  larger,  and  if  possible  ,' 
blacker;  the  currents  seemingly  contending  for  control, 
until  it  attained  to  the  size  of  a  large  thunder-cloud.  The 
whole  family  by  this  time  were  out  in  the  yard  gazing  upon 
it  with  fearful  dread,  as  the  outskirts  of  the  cloud  seemed 
to  reach  our  dwelling.  The  doors  and  windows  were  made 
secure,  when  all  at  once,  the  irregular  movements  within 
the  heart  of  the  cloud  seemed  to  grapple  with  each  other 
for  the  mastery;  and  after  a  fearful  tussle  the  cloud  took  a 
spiral  motion,  and  was  making  its  way  to  the  earth.  I 
should  calculate  the  time  about  one  minute,  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  circular  motion  before  it  struck  the 
ground,  when  the  sharp,  terrific  roar  began,  resembling  a 
thousand  cars  in  motion  at  the  same  time.  As  soon  as  it 
reached  the  earth  it  seemed  to  overwhelm  itself  in  its 
clouds  of  dust  carried  upward,  and  in  its  mighty  struggle 
for  the  mastery,  it  would  weave  to  and  fro;  not  as  yet 
attained  to  any  definite  course.  During  this  struggle,  it 
crossed  the  Chemung  river,  scooped  it  out,  when  striking 
Mr.  Kress'  barn  standing  on  the  bank,  in  a  moment  it 


310  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

became  like  chaff.  Boards,  shingles,  rafters  and  timbers 
were  seen  by  us  Hying  through  the  air,  some  of  them  almost 
over  our  heads.  At  last  the  west  wind  prevailed,  when  it 
took  an  eastern  direction,  and  for  miles  swept  almost  every- 
thing in  its  course;  but  fortunately  it  soon  spent  its  force, 
and  the  damage  was  small.  Though  I  have  been  requested, 
this  is  the  first  description  of  it  prepared  for  public  print. 
I  presume  that  the  cause  is  about  the  same  in  all  phe- 
nomena of  this  character;  but  happy  is  the  man  who,  wit- 
nessing its  mighty  tread,  steps  out  of  the  way. 

The  Rev.  S.  C.  Freer,  who  so  narrowly  escaped  death  at 
Camanche,  is  one  of  the  old  ministers  of  our  church,  ('on- 
verted  in  1834,  licensed  to  preach  in  1840,  and  joined  the 
Erie  conference  in  1841.  He  belonged  to  the  same  class  of 
Bishop  Kingsley  and  others,  now  nearly  all  passed  away. 
He  was  transferred  to  the  Upper  Iowa  conference  in  1856, 
and  upon  almost  every  charge  his  labors  have  been  crowned 
with  success;  at  LeClaire,  Vinton  and  West  Branch,  emi- 
nently so.  When  he  goes  to  a  charge  it  is  to  do  work  for 
his  Master,  and  he  is  not  satisfied  until  he  sees  the  fruits  of 
his  labor;  and  now  at  Laporte,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  he  preaches  three  times  on  the  Sabbath  and  teaches 
one  Bible  class.  Like  many  of  our  brethren,  he  has  been 
blessed  with  a  companion  who  has  contributed  to  his  suc- 
cess. May  his  mantle  fall  upon  those  coming  on  to  fill  his 
place.  Rev.  Isaac  Newton  being  stationed  at  Camanche 
the  present  year,  Brother  Miller  wished  me  to  attend  the 
quarterly  meeting  in  that  village.  I  think  that  on  the  Sab- 
bath was  one  of  the  blessed  seasons  of  my  ministerial  life. 
As  I  discoursed  from  "Godliness  is  profitable  unto  all 
things,"  at  times  I  seemed  to  stand  upon  the  very  borders 
of  heaven,  where  the  spicy  gales  and  divine  rapture  sweetly 
blended;  and  the  congregation  catching  the  same  spirit 
seemed  to  move  upward  in  harmony  with  the  theme.  Such 
days  of  blessing  are  not  easily  forgotten,  neither  by  the 
preacher  nor  congregation.  .  More  than  one  year  afterward, 


REV.    ISAAC    NEWTON.  311 

a  Christian  lady  said  to  me:  "I  shall  never  forget  the  ser- 
mon of  that  day."  No;  those  hours  of  divine  refreshing  are 
so  deeply  imbedded  into  our  spiritual  nature  that  we 
remember  them  when  everything  else  is  forgotten.  And 
often  have  I  thought,  that  among  the  exalted  privileges  in 
heaven  will  be  that,  in  the  society  of  saints,  of  sacredly 
reviewing  earth's  history,  and  talking  over  the  sweet  hours 
of  holy  joy  and  communion  experienced  when  glory 
crowned  the  "  mercy  seat."  What  contributed  very  much 
to  the  interest  of  this  meeting  was  the  privilege  of  enjoy- 
ing the  society  of  Brother  and  Sister  Newton,  whose  friend- 
ship and  hospitality  I  had  shared  in  days  gone  by.  In  the 
memorable  winter  of  1856 — the  severity  of  which  tried 
men's  bodies  as  well  as  souls,  he  hailed  me  a  brother 
beloved  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  and  when  the 
mercury  had  gone  down  to  thirty  below  zero,  I  found  that 
his  "loving  kindness  changeth  not."  And  through  subse- 
quent history,  I  always  found  a  warm  place  in  his  house 
and  in  the  affections  of  his  family.  W^s  it  strange  that  I 
had  unusual  freedom  in  the  pulpit,  meeting  again  a  fellow- 
soldier  in  the  contest  for  life?  Thirty  years  has  Brother 
Newton  been  standing  in  the  ranks  of  his  brethren  in  the 
good  fight  of  faith  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  his  garments  un- 
tarnished and  his  progress  unchecked,  and  the  prospect 
now  is  that  he  will  come  to  the  harvest  ripe  for  the  inherit- 
ance of  the  saints  in  light. 

And  here  again,  as  the  conference  year  passes,  and  sum- 
mer crowns  the  husbandman  with  stacks  of  grain  and  fields 
of  corn,  we  meet  on  the  old  camp-ground  to  raise  the  gos- 
pel standard,  and  battle  for  the  truth.  Since  we  last  met  on 
this  consecrated  spot,  twelve  months  had  rolled  around,  and 
the  destiny  of  millions  had  been  settled  forever.  But 
whilst  life  prolongs  its  precious  light,  the  duty  of  the 
Christian  minister  is  clearly  presented:  "We  must  work  the 
works  of  him  that  sent  us,  while  it  is  day:  the  night  cometh 
when  no  man  can  work."  This  camp-meeting  opened  with 


312        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

every  indication  of  success.  The  first  sermon  was  attended 
with  the  unction  from  on  high,  and  the  place  seemed  to  be 
honored  with  the  divine  presence.  The  family  of  our  pre- 
siding elder  being  sick,  we  were  deprived  of  his  assistance, 
and  the  charge  of  the  services  devolved  upon  Brother  New- 
ton and  myself.  Such  was  the  interest  at  the  close  of  the 
week,  that  the  vote  was  unanimous  to  extend  it  one  week 
longer.  We  had  no  such  casualty  to  contend  with  as  in  the 
year  previous,  but  all  things  moved  forward  pleasantly  and 
successfully.  The  elder  was  able  to  be  with  us  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  preached  a  sermon  of  great  interest  from  "  But 
if  the  light  in  thee  be  darkness,  how  great  is  that  dark- 
ness." Upon  this  occasion  he  excelled,  rising  higher,  in 
grandeur  of  thought  and  real  eloquence,  than  at  any  other 
time,  in  my  presence,  during  our  ministerial  relations.  The 
people  were  delighted  and  blessed. 

The  good  order  that  here  prevailed,  and  the  respect 
shown  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  was  noted  by  all  present;  to 
which  blessed  result  our  wise  committee  of  arrangements 
greatly  contributed.  Every  other  interest  seemed  to  be 
lost  in  the  great  one— that  of  bringing  poor,  perishing  sin- 
ners to  the  Saviour.  Four  or  five  of  the  members  of  the 
Rock  River  conference  were  with  us,  and  in  their  plain  pre- 
sentation of  truth  they  honored  the  gospel  which  they 
preached  and  the  conference  to  which  they  belonged.  In 
military  phrase,  it  was  apparent  that  the  ground  was  well 
chosen,  their  guns  well  aimed,  and  their  arrows  steel - 
pointed;  in  addition  to  this,  there  was  a  power  behind  all 
which  carried  conviction  for  sin,  and  salvation  through 
faith  in  Christ.  There  is  one  great  ruling  principle  which 
ever  holds  good  in  the  gracious  work  accomplished  at  our 
camp-meetings.  In  fact,  it  seems  to  be  a  divine  law  ever 
prominent,  that  our  success  in  the  salvation  of  souls  will  be 
in  ratio  to  the  sacrifices  we  make  and  the  interest  felt. 
Uniting  these  two  elements  (and  they  are  not  hard  to  unite), 
and  then  our  prayers  and  efforts  all  tending  to  this  result, 


WAY     TO     SUCCESS.  313 

we  may  rely  as  confidently  that  Christ  will  honor  the.  means ) 
as  that  he  hath  appointed  them.  For  the  Master  delights ' 
to  smile  upon  his  own  cause.  But  on  the  other  hand,  if  we 
repair  to  these  sacred  retreats  that  we  may  enjoy  a  good 
social  time  with  our  Christian  friends,  and  the  luxury  of 
listening  to  a  few  able  sermons,  merely  for  our  own  personal  ; 
enjoyment,  we  shall  leave  these  groves,  "God's  first 
temples,"  in  about  the  same  spiritual  condition  as  when  we 
found  them,  and  sinners  unsaved.  But  these  urgent  im- 
pulses of  the  soul  sent  up  to  heaven  with  strong  cries  and 
tears  for  the  salvation  of  our  friends  are  never,  never  turned 
aside.  The  "effectual  fervent  prayer"  is  the  one  that  is 
honored  in  heaven.  Many  times  had  Jacob  prayed,  and 
many  mercies  received,  but  it  belonged  to  that  eventful 
period  alone,  when  help  must  come,  and  God  only  could 
give,  that  the  silence  of  solitude  was  broken:  "I  will  not 
let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me."  Was  ever  a  prayer 
offered  up  to  God  in  this  spirit  unheeded  and  unanswered? 
Ah,  it  is  when  we  unite  our  ignorance  with  his  wisdom,  our 
weakness  with  his  strength,  our  entire  helplessness  with 
his  almighty  power,  that  the  divine  annunciation  comes  to 
the  ear  of  the  soul:  "Thy  name  shall  be  called  no  more 
Jacob,  but  Israel;  for  as  a  prince  hast  thou  power  with  God 
and  with  men,  and  hast  prevailed."  How  truthfully  and 
sublimely  embodied  in  this  language: 

"  In  vain  thou  struggles!  to  get  free, 
I  never  will  unloose  my  hold. 
Art  thou  the  Man  that  died  for  me? 
The  secret  of  thy  love  unfold. 
Wrestling,  I  will  not  let  thee  go, 
Till  I  thy  name,  thy  nature  know." 

Brethren,  here  is  the  secret  of  spiritual  victory.  It  is 
not  a  hard  matter  to  prevail  with  God  and  exercise  power 
with  men,  when  we  meet  him  at  his  own  appointed  place, 
and  carry  out  the  conditions  of  his  own  appointed  means. 
This  is  the  point  at  which  human  effort  ends,  and  the  grace 


314  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  Christ  gloriously  triumphs.     I  never  saw  this  truth  more 
fully  exemplified  than  at  our  camp-meeting. 

A  Mr.  B.,  the  year  previous,  had  a  remarkable  conversion 
His  light  was  so  brilliant,  and  his  rapture  so  great,  that  he 
could  say:  "  I  could  not  believe  that  I  ever  should  grieve;" 
but  in  the  hour  of  temptation  and  trial  he  lost  his  confidence, 
and  with  it  his  enjoyment.  Months  had  passed,  but  they 
had  afforded  him  but  little  spiritual  comfort,  when  he  came 
to  our  camp-ground  to  see  if  he  could  not  be  once  more  re- 
stored to  his  former  enjoyment.  At  once  he  came  to  me,  as 
I  had  assisted  him  the  year  previous,  and  I  saw  that  he  was 
struggling  in*  the  shades  of  unbelief.  After  learning  his 
real  situation,  I  proposed  that  we  sit  down  together,  and 
that  he  should  tell  me  all  about  his  former  experience,  his 
convictions,  how  he  was  led  to  Christ  and  found  him 
precious.  So  he  started  out,  giving  me  the  details,  and  as 
he  progressed  step  by  step,  I  discovered  that  his  soul  was 
taking  in  the  spirit  of  his  past  experience.  At  times  his 
feelings  almost  overcame  him,  when  he  would  recover  and 
proceed  until  he  reached  the  time  and  place  where  the 
darkness  gave  way  and  light  from  heaven  shone  upon  him. 
At  the  moment  when  he  reached  the  joys  of  pardon,  I  saw 
that  he  was  on  the  brink  of  the  kingdom,  and  I  said  to  him: 
"  Brother  B.,  do  you  not  think  that  Jesus'  power  and  faith- 
fulness is  the  same  now  as  last  year,  and  that  he  has  the 
same  interest  that  you  should  now  be  saved  as  at  that  time?" 
He  paused  a  moment  and  answered:  "Yes,  I  know  he  is 
faithful  that  promised."  This  little  admission  was  the  hand 
that  turned  the  key;  the  door  flew  open,  the  streams  of 
gratitude  and  love  poured  into  his  anxious  soul,  and  the  joy 
was  unspeakable.  All  was  silent  on  the  camp-ground,  pre- 
paring for  dinner,  when  this  shout  of  praise  went  up,  which 
continued  so  long  and  so  loud  that  many  left  their  boiling 
pots  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  triumph.  He  went  from  tent 
to  tent,  telling  his  friends  and  neighbors  what  a  Saviour  he 
had  found.  A  happy  man  was  he  from  that  blessed  hour, 


POWER     OP     ASSOCIATION.  ^1O 

and  the  last  I  heard  from  him  his  tent  was  in  the  "  Land  of 
Beulah,"  where  the  Sun  always  shines.  In  this  interesting 
restoration  there  is  a  lesson  of  instruction.  I  requested  him 
to  relate  his  former  experience,  knowing  that  if  I  could 
succeed  in  getting  him  on  the  gracious  path,  it  would  lead 
all  his  thoughts,  sympathies  and  faith  to  the  Saviour;  and 
when  he  reached  the  point  of  blessing,  he  was  so  near  the 
Master  that  the  hand  of  faith  could  reach  him.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  simple,  and  yet  the  most  successful  trans- 
formations of  this  kind  that  I  ever  witnessed,  and  I  relate  it 
for  the  benefit  of  others  who  may  be  engaged  in  the  same 
work. 

I  think  that  there  is  a  hidden  law  in  the  process  of  asso- 
ciation, though  powerful  and  successful,  yet  hard  to  be  ex- 
plained. It  has  its  lesson  in  the  practical  workings  of 
every-day  life.  As  the  association  of  names  will  often 
bring  up  to  the  memory  many  of  the  occurrences  of  life,  so 
the  association  of  happy  hours  and  divine  blessings  in  the 
past  will  empty  their  cups  of  joy  into  the  bosom  of  the 
present.  A  dear  old  brother  of  mine,  now  in  heaven,  gave , 
me  this  interesting  fact  touching  his  religious  life:  He  was 
converted  at  a  camp-meeting  on  Brush  Creek  circuit,  under 
the  ministrations  of  Rev.  John  Collins  of  precious  memory. 
For  about  six  months  he  walked  in  the  light  of  peace  and 
happiness,  but,  like  the  case  above  related,  ho  lost  his  hold 
on  Christ,  and  darkness  was  the  consequence.  For  months, 
like  the  man  deprived  of  sight,  he  felt  his  way  without  any 
visible  guide  or  spiritual  comfort.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  that  I 
could  once  more  see  old  Brother  Collins!  I  believe  I  should 
find  relief."  Brother  Collins  was  to  be  seen  now,  at  the 
same  place,  forty  miles  distant;  when  he  started  on  horse- 
back to  see  his  old  minister  by  whose  influence  he  had  been 
saved.  Toward  night,  as  he  was  approaching  the  camp- 
ground, and  nearing  the  preacher's  stand,  the  first  man  he 
saw  was  Rev.  John  Collins  who  took  him  into  the  church; 
and  as  soon  as  he  saw  his  face,  quickly  as  an  electric  flash, 


316  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  long-lost  blessing  came,  and  on  his  horse,  his  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  his  heart  leaped  with  joy,  and  the  song  of  glad- 
ness went  forth  from  lips  of  praise.  Not  that  there  was 
any  blessing  on  the  face  of  the  minister,  but  seeing  the  old 
veteran  once  more  brought  all  of  his  thoughts  and  feelings 
to  the  very  gate  of  blessing,  when  the  Holy  Spirit  shed  the 
rich  supply.  Oh,  what  a  boon  was  this!  Forty  miles  he  had 
traveled  in  order  to  secure  this  pearl,  and  before  he  dis- 
mounted from  his  horse,  Brother  Story  was  richer  than  the 
king  upon  his  throne.  After  enjoying  the  meeting  through 
the  Sabbath,  he  returned  home  to  his  family,  through  the 
woods  a  good  part  of  the  way  singing  in  spirit: 

"  Now  rest,  my  long  divided  heart , 

Fixed  on  this  blissful  center,  rest; 
Nor  ever  from  my  Lord  depart, 
With  him  of  every  good  possessed  " 

Camanche!  What  a  memorable  spot!  Only  a  few  years 
previous  the  messenger  of  destruction  swept  through  this 
place,  carrying  terror  and  death  in  his  hand;  and  very  near 
this  beautiful  grove  were  gathered  up  the  bodies  of  the 
slain.  But  in  his  stead  here  are  the  messengers  of  mercy 
heralding  this  great  truth:  "  He  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live,"  and  very  many  are  fleeing 
from  the .  face  of  the  destroyer  and  taking  refuge  beneath 
the  shadow  of  the  Almighty.  Here  on  this  hallowed  spot 
we  meet  Rev.  J.  H.  Rhea,  "  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to 
be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth,  giving  to 
saint  and  sinner  each  a  portion  in  due  season."  Brother 
Rhea  at  this  date  had  been  recently  transferred  from  the 
Central  Illinois  conference  to  ours,  and  was  comparatively  a 
stranger,  but  through  the  ten  succeeding  years  he  has 
established  a  ministerial  character  which  ranks  him  among 
the  honored  of  his  brethren.  He  has  filled  our  best  appoint- 
ments during  that  time,  and  stands  among  us  to-day  with  a 
growing  reputation,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that  in  the  final 


REV.    L.     CATLIN KEY.    G.    W.    ROGERS.        317 

award  he  will  have  very  many  "  stars  in   the   crown   of  his 
rejoicing." 

'  Another  dear  friend  I  welcome  during  this  spiritual 
feast;  and  what  gives  value  to  his  friendship,  it  had  been 
tested.  He  stood  firmly  by  my  side  when  "warring  with 
principalities  and  powers;"  his  position  in  the  front,  ever 
ready  to  assist,  with  encouraging  words  and  a  helping 
hand.  For  nearly  two  years  in  Maquoketahe  was  my  right- 
hand  man,  wise  in  his  counsels  and  preaching  by  his  life. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Upper  Iowa  conference  in  1865, 
with  fewer  words  than  any  member  of  my  acquaintance. 
When  his  name  was  presented  for  admission,  Brother  Ky- 
nett  called  upon  me  to  speak  to  his  case:  "  No  discount  on 
Brother  Catlin,"  was  all  that  was  said  and  all  that  was 
needed.  In  the  several  relations  of  life,  whether  as  teacher, 
merchant,  local  or  traveling  minister,  he  is  the  same  safe, 
prudent,  and  true  man;  his  words  ever  seasoned  and  his 
example  ever  pure.  The  present  year  he  is  stationed  in 
Bellevue,  adding  value  to  his  former  reputation. 

And  I  must  not  omit  the  name  of  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Rogers. 
He  was  a  young  member  of  the  conference,  stationed  at 
Grand  Mound.  At  three  o'clock  p.  M.,  that  hour  marked 
sluggish  in  the  preacher's  diary,  I  see  him  standing  in  the 
pulpit,  with  my  old  friend  Earhart  of  Pleasant  Valley  in 
front.  Brother  R.'s  subject  is  faith.  The  weather  is  warm, 
the  audience  dull,  some  fast  asleep,  their  faith  not  strong 
enough  to  keep  their  eyes  open.  I  listened  attentively  to 
the  discourse  and  thought  many  things;  among  them  this, 
that  in  the  days  of  our  Saviour  on  earth,  the  hardest  devil  to 
cast  out  was  the  dumb  devil  j  and  considering  the  sleepy  one 
a  first  cousin,  as  the  elder  said  I  must  exhort  after  the  ser- 
mon, I  was  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  Strategy  was  a  neces- 
sity, but  even  this  was  hard  to  call  into  requisition  under 
the  pressure  of  a  hearty  dinner  and  ninety  degrees  heat  in 
the  shade.  But  the  sermon  closes  and  there  is  no  backing 
out.  I  took  for  my  starting  thought,  an  old  saying — (new  to 


318  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

many  just  opening  their  eyes):  "Blessed  is  the  man  who 
first  invented  sleep;"  arid  as  many  present  had  been  won- 
derfully blessed  during  the  last  half  hour,  they  felt  a  deep 
interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  their  personal  welfare; 
and  as  I  advanced,  presenting  the  different  features  of  this 
patrimony,  their  eyes  flew  open  and  the  mouth  enlarged, 
when  soon  "  nature's  kind  restorer  "  had  not  a  place  to  set 
his  foot.  Before  I  knew  it,  we  were  all  breathing  the  air  of 
victory.  I  was  aware  that  there  must  have  been  some  hid- 
den virtue  in  David's  harp  to  expel  the  evil  spirit  from  the 
person  of  Saul,  but  I  never  realized  that  there  was  so  much 
virtue  in  a  smile  as  upon  the  present  occasion.  Having 
succeeded  in  breaking  the  lull  and  securing  their  attention, 
I  was  favored  with  very  much  freedom  and  enjoyment  in 
closing  the  exercises.  Elder  Miller  and  Rev.  R.  W.  Keeler 
who  were  present,  congratulated  me  on  my  success  in  master- 
ing such  a  difficulty;  and  though  it  began  with  a  singular 
maneuver,  it  ended  with  a  spiritual  triumph.  Brother  Rogers, 
who  passed  through  that  severe  ordeal,  was  a  particular 
friend,  a  blessed  young  man,  and  highly  appreciated  the 
assistance  rendered.  As  his  eye  runs  over  this  page,  mem- 
ory will  recall  the  peril  and  pleasant  deliverance.  Such  is 
the  history  of  human  efforts  in  waging  war  with  the  powers 
of  darkness.  Brother  Keeler  was  with  us  during  these 
services  and  preached  with  his  accustomed  ability,  but  as 
he  will  have  a  notice  in  our  next  chapter,  I  will  pass  him 
for  the  present.  This  camp-meeting  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end  was  a  decided  success,  and  wound  up  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  who  attended  it;  and  in  the  day  when  earth's 
doings  shall  be  fully  revealed  in  the  great  future,  it  will  be 
known  that  the  influence  of  that  labor  bore  a  part  in  adding 
to  the  number  of  those  who  will  be  permitted  to  "  sing  the 
song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb."  After  such  a  season  of 
holy  and  heavenly  fellowship,  how  solemn  the  separation. 
No  more  to  meet,  many  of  us,  until,  disrobed  of  mortality, 
we  meet  in  the  mansions  of  light,  in  the  home  of  the 


FAREWELL     TO     LOW     MOOR.  319 

heavenly  Bethany,  where  the  Marthas  and  Marys  in  the 
presence  of  Jesus  find  a  sweeter  rest  and  an  eternal  home. 
How  many  of  us  who  sang  and  prayed  and  rejoiced  during 
those  weeks  of  refreshing,  will  unite  in  that  land  of  purity 
and  love  to  adore  Him  who  hath  called  us  to  such  bliss  in 
heaven  to  share? 

As  I  returned  to  my  pleasant  home  at  Brother  and  Sister 
Kistner's,  after  this  meeting,  with  the  other  members  of 
the  family,  I  was  attacked  with  the  scarlet  fever,  which  very 
much  prostrated  my  system,  and  disqualified  me  for  my 
usual  labors.  The  youngest  member  of  the  family  was 
taken  to  the  home  above,  and  some  of  us  were  in  a  fair  way 
to  follow,  but  the  Divine  Master  had  other  work  for  us  to  do, 
and  so  kindly  lengthened  out  our  days;  but  the  severe 
ordeal  through  which  I  passed  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 
As  the  conference  year  was  drawing  to  a  close,  I  was  con- 
vinced that  I  would  not  be  justified,  in  my  state  of  health, 
in  returning  to  the  charge;  so  at  our  annual  conference 
held  at  Clinton,  I  requested  a  release  of  one  year  from 
labor,  and  was  granted  a  superannuated  relation.  At  the 
close  of  the  session  I  repaired  to  my  pleasant  little  home  in 
Michigan,  near  Benton  Harbor,  my  brother  Harvey  Taylor 
having  moved  there  the  previous  year.  Here  in  my  brother's 
family,  whose  companion's  face  was  always  sunshine,  in 
sight  of  ihe  beautiful  lake,  with  its  rolling  waves  and 
waving  sails,  the  passing  night  and  pleasant  day  glided 
imperceptibly  away.  Like  the  former  fields  where  I  had 
labored  and  gathered  jewels  for  my  Master,  here  also  on 
Low  Moor  circuit,  friendships  had  been  formed  and  attach- 
ments created  which  the  hand  of  time  cannot  deface  and 
the  ravages  of  death  cannot  destroy.  The  pleasant  history 
there  made  during  the  years  1870  and  '71  will  extend  onward 
in  its  delightsome  progress  to  the  day  when  "  friends  shall 
meet  again  who  have  loved,"  and  then  its  pleasant  memo- 
ries will  be  cherished  still  as  we  go  on  to  higher  honors  and 
richer  joys.  Oh,  what  a  meeting  that  will  be,  when  from  the 


320  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

pastoral  charges  of  former  years  the  thousands  of  faithful 
ones  come  up  to  heaven  to  greet  their  faithful  minister 
who  assisted  them  to  secure  the  prize!  Some  of  the  pre- 
cious ones  to  whom  I  then  preached  have  entered  into  rest, 
and  others  soon  will  follow;  but  room  abundant  still  remains 
for  us  who  later  come,  to  sit  down  at  the  first  table,  when 
our  Lord  himself  will  serve  us,  and  glory  crown  the 
heavenly  feast.  Unto  Him  who  hath  exalted  us  to  such 
immortal  honors,  be  praise,  and  honor,  and  thanksgiving, 
now  and  forever.  Amen! 


CHAPTER     XL. 

Who  will  say  but  that  there  is  something  in  a  name,  and  es- 
pecially so  in  olden  times  when  they  portrayed  the  elements 
of  character.  Often  have  I  been  led  to  inquire  whether,  in 
heaven,  I  shall  still  be  called  by  my  familiar  name  Landon. 
In  this  world  how  often,  as  my  brethren  and  sisters  have 
given  me  the  kindly  hand  and  called  me  by  name,  has  it 
afforded  me  pleasure.  How  much  more  so,  than  as  if  they 
had  stiffened  up  and  called  me  Mr.  Taylor.  But  whether 
on  the  golden  streets,  as  I  meet  these  loved  ones,  they  will 
greet  me  thus,  I  cannot  say.  With  my  present  views  and 
feelings,  it  would  be  pleasant  there.  But  then  I  have 
thought  that  if  divine  grace  could  so  transform  a  Jacob, 
that  infinite  wisdom  saw  it  best  to  change  his  name  to 
Israel — the  supplanter  to  a  prince — is  it  not  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  in  the  change  from  sinners  saved,  to  glorified 
saints,  that  a  new  name  may  accompany  our  new  nature? 
In  Revelations  iii.  12,  it  is  said  of  those  who  overcome: 
"  I  will  write  upon  them  my  new  name"  and  then  we  read 
of  those  "  whose  names  are  written  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of 
Life."  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  we  must  wait  until  that 
time  before  we  fully  know,  and  yet  it  is  very  pleasant  to 


PLEAS  A  XT    SABBATH.  321 

dwell  upon  those  things  now,  which  soon  are  to  become  a 
part  of  our  history.  Sister  Young,  the  companion  of  my 
old  friend  Dan  Young,  who  was  a  devoted  Christian,  as 
she  was  dying,  uttered  a  few  words  of  untold  interest.  To 
all  human  appearance  she  had  passed  away,  as  she  ceased 
to  breathe:  "  Oh,  that  I  could  hear  her  speak  once  more!" 
said  Brother  Young:  "Can  you  not  so  far  bring  hereto  con- 
sciousness that  I  may  hear  her  voice  again?"  said  he  to  the 
physician.  Said  the  doctor:  "  I  will  try."  The  effort  was 
successful,  and  here  is  what  she  said:  "  Oh,  doctor,  why  did 
you  bring  me  back!  I  was  just  about  to  receive  my  new 
name"  As  soon  as  these  words  were  uttered  she  passed 
from  earth  to  heaven.  Whatever  changes,  however,  are 
made  in  our  heavenly  home  differing  from  this,  one  thing  is 
certain:  "  That  we  shall  be  satisfied  when  we  awake  in  his 
likeness."  This  short  introduction  brings  me  to  "Wyo- 
ming," of  historic  importance.  How,  in  my  school-boy 
days — as  I  was  reared  not  far  from  the  valley — I  read  its 
thrilling  history.  My  youthful  nature  was  all  alive  in  sym- 
pathy with  their  trials,  sufferings  and  death,  and  as  I  come 
to  its  namesake,  by  the  law  of  association  I  am  carried 
back  to  all  the  events  of  its  touching  history, 

As  my  year  in  Michigan  rolled  around,  my  health  greatly 
improved,  and  toward  the  close  of  summer  I  decided  to 
enter  upon  the  labors  of  another  year.  Having  everything 
in  readiness,  I  started  for  Vinton,  where  our  conference  was 
to  be  held,  taking  Clinton  City  in  my  route.  Here  I  found 
Rev.  James  H.  Rhea,  the  pastor  of  the  station,  who  wel- 
comed me  to  his  charge,  and  had  me  booked  for  his  pulpit 
on  Sabbath  morning.  What  an  additional  impetus  it  gives 
in  our  reception  to  a  place,  to  know  that  there  is  some 
assistance  to  be  rendered.  I  tell  you  it  often  strengthens 
the  grasp  and  expands  the  chest  when  we  receive  help  at 
the  needed  time.  Whether  this  had  any  effect  upon  the 
doctor  at  this  period,  I  cannot  say,  but  the  hearty  greeting 
was  appreciated  fully,  and  his  pulpit  supplied  to  the  best 
22 


322  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  my  ability.  The  general  class  in  the  afternoon  of  that 
day  was  a  season  of  unusual  interest.  Meeting  these  Chris- 
tian friends  to  whom  I  ministered  eight  or  nine  years  pre- 
vious, through  the  din  and  smoke  of  war,  but  now  under 
the  canopy  of  peace,  seemed  to  intensify  the  pleasure  of 
this  spiritual  reunion.  Very  seldom  have  I  passed  a  more 
delightful  hour;  and  what  gave  additional  interest  to  it 
was  the  privilege  of  meeting  Brother  and  Sister  Yeomans, 
who  were  the  lights  of  my  heritage  in  a  land  of  strangers. 
Yes,  in  a  time  of  comparative  destitution,  in  the  reign  of 
snow  and  ice,  and  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  a  destroying 
foe,  these  two  companions  of  the  wilderness  provided  food 
for  the  body  and  comfort  for  the  soul.  Is  it  any  wonder 
that  the  flame  of  gratitude  and  love  should  rise  unusually 
high  in  meeting  such  friends  at  the  altar  of  saints  at  Clin- 
ton, who  together  in  Sioux  City,  fourteen  years  previous, 
shared  the  perils  of  a  pioneer  life?  But  holy  days  and 
Sabbath  bells  with  their  sacred  associations  must  be  left  be- 
hind as  we  repair  to  the  seat  of  our  annual  conference. 
Here  we  are  provided  with  a  very  pleasant  home;  my  room- 
mate, Rev.  Elias  Skinner,  one  of  the  old  members  of  our 
conference,  and  now  presiding  elder  of  Anamosa  district. 
A  pleasanter  home  we  could  not  have  found  than  in  the 
family  of  the  u  Squire,"  and  we  well  knew  how  to  value  the 
honor.  Shortly  after  our  arrival,  a  couple  called  at  his  resi- 
dence to  get  married,  and  as  I  was  the  oldest  minister 
present,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  performing  the  ceremony. 
In  this  way,  for  the  good  of  society,  we  confer  a  double 
benefit:  that  of  diffusing  light  and  also  of  binding  them 
together.  As  a  token  of  respect  to  our  landlady,  I  handed 
over  to  her  the  wedding  fees,  and  felt  it  a  pleasure  to  be 
able  to  confer  a  small  favor,  where  we  were  receiving  such 
tokens  of  their  hospitality.  Who  should  I  meet  at  this 
place  but  one  of  my  old  friends  and  member  of  my  charge, 
from  Vineland,  New  Jersey.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  in  its  organization,  heard  my  first  and  last  ser- 


ELOQUENCE     IN     VAIN.  323 

mon  in  that  young  city,  and  now  we  meet  a  thousand 
miles  distant  to  exchange  greetings  and  renew  friendships 
upon  Iowa  soil.  My  visit  with  him  and  his  family  was  a 
social  ovation,  and  we  lived  over  again  the  history  of  the 
past. 

At  the  close  of  the  session,  receiving  my  appointment  at 
Wyoming,  I  went  immediately  to  my  station  and  com- 
menced the  labors  of  a  new  year.  Nearly  twenty  years 
previous  I  visited  this  town,  when  Sunday-school  agent, 
and  preached  in  a  school-house,  when  it  was  in  its  infancy; 
but  now  it  has  grown  to  the  stature  of  a  thriving  village, 
with  its  shops,  stores  and  bank,  and  still  looking  fors?&rd  to 
years  of  greater  wealth  and  prosperity.  Almost  every 
place,  however  small,  has  a  proud  and  commanding  future, 
and  only  needs  the  hand  of  time  and  the  march  of  progress 
to  develop  its  rich  resources  into  a  prosperous  city.  This 
is  almost  the  universal  verdict,  and  in  this  coming  inheri- 
tance Wyoming  claims  her  share.  Many  of  these  brethren 
with  whom  I  come  to  labor  have  known  me  for  many  years, 
and  now  all  that  remains  is  to  mark  out  the  ground  and 
enter  upon  its  cultivation.  The  Rev.  B.  C.  Barnes  was  my 
predecessor  on  this  work,  and  discharged  his  duties  as  a 
faithful  pastor.  This  is  the  record  of  Brother  B.  in  his  re- 
lations to  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  aiming  at  all  times  to 
do  the  work  of  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel.  Upon  one 
occasion,  however,  when  I  visited  his  charge  as  Bible  agent 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  we  found  more  than  our 
match.  At  one  of  his  appointments,  the  house  filled  with 
interested  listeners,  the  "  Amens "  coming  thick  and  fast, 
and  the  inspiration  of  the  speaker  raised  to  the  highest  point 
of  interest,  we  looked  at  its  close  for  a  very  liberal  collec- 
tion, when,  lo!  as  its  contents  were  revealed,  we  found  that 
all  of  their  generous  enthusiasm  had  been  expended  in  loud 
responses  to  the  preacher.  In  vain  we  looked  into  the 
bottom  of  the  hat  for  Bible  money,  for  it  was  not  there. 
When  I  considered  the  offering,  and  the  strength  employed 


324  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

to  secure  it,  I  felt  much  like  saying:  "Why  all  this  waste 
of  thought  and  moving  eloquence  to  open  hearts  and 
pockets,  when  no  return  is  made  but  simply  the  old  hat!" 
But  I  must  correct;  a  few  dimes  were  there,  just  enough  to 
show  the  character  of  their  generosity.  As  we  went  out 
from  that  assembly,  infused  with  the  spirit  of  their  liberality, 
we  could  not  suppress  the  hearty  laugh,  and  the  old  home 
saying:  "An  ocean  into  tempest  tossed  to  waft  a  feather, 
or  to  drown  a  fly."  At  the  next  conference  I  asked  Bishop 
Ames  to  send  Brother  Barnes  to  Hopkinton,  when  he  was 
granted  a  kind  release. 

I  found  a  very  pleasant  home  at  Wyoming  in  the  family 
of  .W.  Brainerd,  and  Persons,  who  spared  no  pains  to  minister 
to  all  my  wants.  The  society  at  this  place  was  very  much 
like  others — it  needed  faithful  pastoral  work  in  order  to 
prosper,  and  this  duty  I  endeavored  to  discharge  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  we  enjoyed  a 
very  pleasant  ministerial  association  at  Delhi,  Rev.  Elias 
Skinner  chairman.  The  subject  assigned  to  the  writer  upon 
this  occasion  was  "The  Happiness  of  Heaven."  With  my 
limited  knowledge  I  did  what  I  could  to  enter  into  its  reali- 
ties, and  before  my  essay  was  concluded,  we  felt  that  we 
were  tasting  some  of  the  joys  of  the  coming  bliss.  In  no 
one  instance  did  I  ever  realize  such  a  holy  rapture  in  read- 
ing the  subject  assigned  me  as  at  this  time,  and  for  a 
season  we  seemed  upon  the  very  borders  of  the  heavenly 
land.  Long  since  have  I  been  satisfied  that  what  constitutes 
our  happiness  on  earth,  will  be  the  same  in  heaven.  The 
only  difference  will  be  the  capacity  to  receive,  and  the  full 
fruition  possessed.  God  is  the  soul's  portion,  the  only  ele- 
ment of  bliss  in  this  world  below,  or  in  our  heaven  above, 
and  that  soul  that  is  filled  with  God  is  filled  icith  heaven. 
Oh,  that  all  might  know  this  joyful  truth!  The  greatest  in- 
terest in  our  subjects  of  discussion  at  this  association  arose 
from  Elder  Skinner's  essay  on  home  amusements.  The 
elder  in  his  essay  took  the  broad  ground  that  ministers 


HOME     AMUSEMENTS.  325 

had  a  higher  calling  than  to  spend  their  precious  hours  in  V 
playing  "croket,"  or  in  like  amusements.  This  view  of  the  / 
subject  came  in  contact  with  the  habits  of  some  of  the 
brethren  present,  and  elicited  a  warm  debate  for  and  against. 
Some  one  of  the  speakers  inquired,  athat  if,  in  the  heat  of 
discussion  upon  this  subject,  a  book  agent  should  come  in, 
having  the  life  of  '  Paul  and  Silas '  to  sell,  with  a  picture  in 
front  representing  them  out  on  the  green  playing  a  game  of 
croquet,  if  they  would  not  regard  it  a  slander  upon  those 
good  men?  If  so  in  relation  to  them,  is  it  any  less  so  in  its 
application  to  us  at  the  present  day?"  In  this  discussion 
another  sharp  point  was  brought  out.  One  of  the  pastors 
present,  fond  of  this  amusement,  a  short  time  previous  had 
been  called  upon  to  labor  with  one  of  the  young  men  of  his 
charge  for  playing  cards.  Whilst  urging  the  matter  warmly 
and  kindly  upon  the  young  convert,  he  was  met  by  this 
home  thrust:  "  That  it  was  no  worse  to  play  a  game  of  cards 
for  pastime  than  a  game  of  croquet."  This  was  the  nail 
that  spiked  the  preacher's  gun,  and  he  went  out  from  the 
young  man  under  the  pressure  of  defeat.  And  now,  having 
given  some  of  the  leading  features  in  that  discussion,  I  will 
volunteer  a  few  honest  words  from  the  writer.  As  to  the 
harm  in  these  amusements,  there  is,  and  will  be,  a  difference 
of  opinion  among  ministers,  and,  I  may  add,  an  honest  differ- 
ence. But  so  far  as  my  own  -views  and  feelings  are  con- 
cerned, the  whole  matter  turns  upon-  these  two  points: 
First,  Is  it  the  most  profitable  way  in  which  we  can  spend 
our  time?  for  our  time  is  our  estate;  and,  Second,  In  so 
doing,  do  we  suffer  a  loss  in  our  ministerial  influence?  If 
one  or  the  other,  or  both  of  these  be  true,  then  I  should  not 
feel  justified  in  their  indulgence.  The  Christian  minister 
has  no  more  right,  in  the  light  of  the  divine  law,  to  pursue 
a  course  to  lessen  his  influence  with  his  people,  than  to  in- 
dulge in  habits  which  will  destroy  his  grace,  for  in  doing 
good  to  his  fellowmen,  one  is  as  important  as  the  other.  If 
I  had  any  counsel  to  present  to  my  dear  brethren  whom  I 


3  v}6  THE     BATTLE     F  I  E  L  D     fc  E  V  I  E  W  E  D  . 

must  shortly  leave,  I  would  lay  this  down  as  a  rule  in  every 
act  of  life:  "Is  this  the  course  my  Master  will  approve  when  \ 
I  stand  before   him   to  render  my  account?"     If  we  honor  / 
this  rule,  we  shall  not  go  far  astray. 

At  the  close  of  this  session,  the  family  of  the  elder  being 
sick,  I  accompanied  Brother  Ward  to  Colesburg,  to  assist  at 
his  quarterly  meeting.  In  starting  out  from  Delhi,  with  a 
spirited  colt  before  his  buggy,  in  passing  down  a  hill,  the 
horse  began  to  kick  and  run,  and  when  we  reached  the  foot, 
giving  the  horse  a  short  turn  to  the  left,  Brother  W.  took  a 
rolling  fall,  landed  safely  on  his  back,  and  left  me  in  charge 
of  a  running  horse  and  a  broken  buggy.  This  was  one  of 
the  perils  not  in  the  list  of  the  apostle,  as  he  did  the  most 
of  his  traveling  on  foot;  but  as  the  horse's  heels,  at  every 
kick,  came  near  my  head,  I  was  interested  in  a  sudden  halt, 
and  so  reined  up  my  charge  to  a  picket  fence.  In  this  way 
I  stopped  his  progress  and  saved  myself;  but  a  part  of  the 
day  was  spent  in  repairing  our  carriage.  This  loss  restored, 
we  made  our  way  to  Colesburg  in  safety,  where  I  found  my 
old  friends,  Brother  and  Sister  Perkins,  who  had  left  Michi- 
gan and  were  now  living  again  at  their  old  home,,  How 
pleasant  the  meeting,  and  how  precious  the  hours  spent 
during  our  Sabbath  services.  I  chose  for  my  subject  at  half 
past  ten  o'clock  A.M.,  "But  this  one  thing  I  do,  forgetting 
the  things  that  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those 
things  which  are  before,"  etc.  This  was  a  season  of  spiritual 
enjoyment  to  all  who  waited  upon  the  Lord,  and  I  felt  at 
its  close  that  large  blessings  often  follow  in  the  wake  of 
temporal  disasters.  Brother  and  Sister  Ward  contributed 
their  influence,  with  my  former  friends,  to  make  this  among 
the  pleasant  seasons  of  my  life,  and  on  Monday  morning  I 
returned  to  Wyoming,  with  larger  history  and  a  warmer 
heart. 

In  this  station  I  formed  a  very  pleasant  acquaintance  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Baird,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this 
place,  who  seemed  quite  anxious  to  unite  with  us  in  a  union 


CONVERSION     OP     A     CATHOLIC.  327 

meeting  during  the  winter.  At  our  second  quarterly  meet- 
ing I  presented  his  request  to  the  members  of  the  quarterly 
conference,  and  receiving  the  approval  of  that  body,  as  well 
as  of  the  presiding  elder,  we  commence^  our  services,  one 
week  alternately  in  each  church.  The  meeting  was  one  of 
much  interest,  and  continued  four  or  five  weeks,  resulting 
in  the  conversion  of  many  souls.  There  was  not  one  note 
of  discord  during  this  entire  meeting,  but  it  soon  became 
apparent  to  me  that  our  Presbyterian  friends  had  the  in- 
fluence in  the  community,  and  were  much  the  best  workers; 
and  these  two  elements  in  their  favor  resulted  in  their  re- 
ceiving nearly  all  the  converts.  This  was  no  affliction  to 
me,  as  I  knew  that  my  reward  was  sure,  but  it  was  quite  an 
affliction  to  many  members  of  our  church.  Brother  Baird 
pursued  a  manly  and  Christian  course  from  first  to  last,  and 
I  closed  up  the  labors  of  the  year  with  the  kindest  feelings 
toward  him  and  his  family.  During  our  services  a  Roman 
Catholic  was  converted,  which  added  much  to  the  interests 
of  the  work.  His  little  daughter,  about  ten  years  of  age, 
and  the  father's  pet,  came  out  to  preaching  and  became 
very  much  interested.  Upon  returning  home  she  reported 
to  her  father  what  an  interesting  meeting  we  had,  and  finally 
secured  a  promise  from  him  that  he  would  attend  the  next 
evening.  He  came,  according  to  promise,  and  the  first 
night  he  was  so  interested  that  he  required  no  further  per- 
suasions to  attend  the  house  of  worship.  Within  a  short 
time  he  was  converted,  and  the  family  became  members  of 
our  church.  At  the  close  of  the  conference  year  they  were 
still  faithful  in  the  cause.  Such  fruits  as  these  are  worth 
weeks  of  toil.  The  wife  of  this  Catholic  was  an  intelligent 
lady,  and  afterward  became  a  Bible-class  teacher  in  the 
neighborhood  to  which  they  moved. 

In  this  charge  we  had  quite  a  number  of  faithful  workers 
and  an  interesting  Sunday-school.  Brother  Pixley  was  our 
banker,  Woodford  our  editor  and  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendent, James  A.  Bronson  our  teacher  of  the  Bible-class, 


328  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

W.  Brainerd  and  Daniel  Brainerd  our  merchants,  Rev.  A 
Bronson  an  old  veteran  preacher,  Brother  Bradshaw  our 
dentist;  and  thus  we  were  well  represented  in  all  the  in- 
terests of  the  city;  and  add  to  these  very  many  others,  with 
a  noble  class  of  women,  and  this  will  give  a  kind  of  outline 
to  the  character  of  the  charge.  Rev.  L.  Hartsough,  being 
stationed  at  Epworth  at  this  date,  held  a  kind  of  winter 
camp-meeting  in  his  station,  to  which  several  of  the  preachers 
of  the  district  were  invited.  I  attended  it  and  remained 
with  him  for  several  days.  It  was  a  very  profitable  season 
to  the  preachers  and  to  the  people.  Here  was  Brother  T. 
Thompson,  who  attended  my  ministry  in  Muscatine  twenty 
years  previous,  and  that  I  assisted  in  quarterly  conference 
to  become  a  herald  of  the  Cross;  glad  that  he  has  never  be- 
trayed the  confidence  of  his  brethren.  This  was  the  first 
opportunity  to  hear  him  preach  the  gospel  since  I  cast  that 
vote,  and  I  listened  with  pleasure  and  profit.  Here  was 
Brother  Dove,  whose  wife  was  converted  at  Old  Centenary, 
Dubuque,  when  I  was  pastor,  who  combined  also  the  bold- 
ness of  the  eayle  when  he  set  out  to  secure  his  prey. 
Brother  F.  X.  Miller  was  present  also,  bringing  the  finest  of 
the  wheat;  and  Rev.  H.  W.  Reed,  with  his  words  of  wisdom. 
Many  of  those  present  I  ministered  unto  when  they  were 
children,  and  now  we  meet  to  magnify  redeeming  grace  in 
riper  years.  This  was  the  last  friendly  communion  season 
that  I  enjoyed  with  Elder  Reed  among  these  friends,  and 
the  next,  in  all  probability,  will  be  in  heaven.  Doctor  John- 
son was  then  quite  feeble  and  waiting  the  Master's  call,  but 
now  he  is  enjoying  the  pure  air  of  a  healthier  clime.  My 
home  at  this  meeting  was  with  Brother  and  Sister  Johnson, 
the  warm  friends  of  earlier  years,  and  the  comfort  of  de- 
clining age.  Many  have  been  the  happy  seasons  that  we 
have  enjoyed  together  on  earth,  and  happier  ones  await  us 
in  the  better  home.  We  leave  this  precious  season  of  grace 
and  repair  to  our  own  charges,  conscious  that  many  stars 
have  been  added  to  the  crown  of  rejoicing. 


TRIBUTE     TO     R.     W.     K  E  E  L  E  R  ,     D.D.  329 

But  scarcely  had  we  reached  home  and  burnished  our 
armor  for  aggressive  movements  upon  the  enemy's  ranks, 
before  the  bugle  notes  are  sounded  for  a  raid  in  another 
quarter.  Rev.  R.  W.  Keeler,  the  old  commanding  officer, 
for  years,  of  the  Master's  forces,  sees  a  weak  place  some- 
where in  the  enemy's  fortifications,  and  he  calls  for  rein- 
forcements to  assist  in  capturing  the  foe.  He  was  now 
stationed  at  Fourteenth  Street,  Davenport,  and  as  this  had 
been  my  old  battle-ground,  and  many  victories  achieved, 
he  called  upon  me  to  assist  him  to  gather  new  laurels  and 
gain  additional  honors.  How  could  I  refuse  when  such  a 
field  was  open  and  such  interests  at  stake?  Well  armed 
and  equipped,  I  honored  the  call  and  made  my  way  to  the 
city,  and  when  I  arrived  I  found  Dr.  Rhea  and  Brother  Hart- 
sough  on  the  ground,  "strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power 
of  his  might."  My  first  sermon  at  night  was  founded  on 
these  words:  "Him  that  cometh  to  me,  I  will  in  no  wise 
cast  out."  The  blessed  Spirit  attended  the  word,  and  among 
the  seekers  were  some  of  the  children  of  old  Brother  Dona- 
hoo,  formerly  a  member  of  the  old  Ohio  conference,  and 
my  pastor  when  a  youth.  What  clusters  of  interesting  his- 
tory gathered  the  first  night.  That  father  who  ministered 
to  me  when  a  boy,  now  in  heaven,  to  his  children  I  am  now 
ministering,  and  assisting  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
grace.  And  the  angels  who  were  present  that  evening  did 
ngt  return  home  with  a  blank  message,  but  with  songs  of 
joy  and  triumph.  Brothers  Hartsough  and  Rhea  also 
preached  in  the  spirit  of  their  mission,  and  the  interest  in- 
creased at  every  service. 

On  Sunday  night  I  preached  from,  "  Behold,  now  is  the 
accepted  time,"  etc.  Whilst  presenting  the  plain  and 
pointed  truths  of  the  gospel,  I  felt  "  strong  in  the  strength 
which  God  supplies  through  his  beloved  Son."  Whilst 
urging  the  great  importance  of  present  action  and  the  folly 
as  well  as  the  hazard  of  death-bed  repentance  —  nearly 
always  spurious  —  as  an  evidence  I  referred  to  an  event  of 


330  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

recent  occurrence  on  Lake  Michigan.  Under  a  sudden  gale 
the  boat  went  down,  leaving  the  cabin  and  about  fifteen 
passengers  hanging  to  the  wreck.  In  the  darkness  of  the 
night  they  floated  on  the  rolling  waves.  When  morning 
returned,  seeing  no  hope  of  deliverance,  they  all  cove- 
nanted together  that  if  Providence  would  save  them  from  the 
wreck,  they  would  serve  him  for  life.  Within  a  short  time 
deliverance  came,  and  they  were  landed  at  St.  Joseph, 
Michigan,  and  returned  to  their  homes.  Now  for  the 
sequel.  Not  one  of  that  number  kept  his  pledge,  but  pur- 
sued the  same  sinful  course.  Repentance  professed  under 
the  pressure  of  expected  death — as  a  rule — rarely  produces 
fruit  to  eternal  life.  It  was  an  interesting  sight  to  see  the 
number  of  young  men  at  the  altar  that  night,  and  eternity 
alone  can  fathom  the  results.  Brother  and  Sister  Keeler, 
with  many  other  good  workers  of  his  charge,  spared  no 
pains  to  make  this  meeting  a  success.  And  a  success  it 
was,  and  as  I  left  these  kind  friends  and  returned  to  my 
home  in  Wyoming  I  was  reminded  of  that  truthful  senti- 
ment, by  us  so  often  sung: 

"  But  if  our  fellowship  below, 

In  Jesus  be  so  sweet, 
What  heights  of  rapture  shall  we  know, 
When,  round  ihe  throne  we  meet." 

Rev.  R.  W.  Keeler,  D.D.,  came  from  New  York  confer- 
ence to  the  Upper  Iowa  in  1856,  and  during  that  twenty- 
five  years  he  has  been  filling  the  most  responsible  positions 
in  our  church — the  most  of  this  time  as  presiding  elder  of 
a  district,  in  which  he  has  acquitted  himself  with  honor. 
He  is  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament,  and  secures 
the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  preachers  and  the  mem- 
bers of  his  work.  In  two  or  three  instances  he  has  repre- 
sented us  as  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  and 
sustains  an  honorable  relation  to  all  the  interests  of  the 
church.  And  though  he  has  been  laboring  for  thirty-five 
years  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  his  "  natural  force  is  not 


SKETCH     OF     REV.    JAMES    GILRUTH.  331 

abated  and  his  eye  is  not  dim."  He  enjoys  a  good  hearty 
laugh,  and  looks  not  with  indifference  on  a  good  dinner. 
The  blight  of  dyspepsia  has  never  disturbed  his  slumbers, 
and  the  smoke  of  despondency  never  colored  his  dwelling. 
He  lives  to  enjoy  life,  and  I  trust  to  enjoy  God;  and 
favored  with  such  a  devoted  companion,  I  see  no  reason 
why  his  pathway  should  not  be  pleasant,  and  the  fruits 
peace.  This  year  (1881)  he  is  stationed  at  Fayette,  the  seat 
of  the  Upper  Iowa  university,  still  adding  to  former  honors 
and  extending  the  sphere  of  his  usefulness.  May  the  even- 
ing be  pleasant,  and  his  sun  set  without  a  cloud.  When 
spring  returned,  the  brethren  felt  the  importance  of  improv- 
ing our  basement,  as  it  had  long  been  in  the  rough,  and  by 
the  expenditure  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  dollars  we  had 
a  beautiful  room,  an  ornament  to  the  house  of  God.  Be- 
fore leaving  the  charge,  I  left  with  them  my  donation, 
which,  upon  my  return,  will  ever  entitle  me  to  a  reserved 
seat  in  the  temple  of  worship. 

In  the  month  of  May  I  received  a  letter  from  Rev.  James 
H.  Gilruth,  that  his  father  was  fast  sinking,  and  wished  me 
to  be  in  readiness,  when  called  upon,  to  attend  his  funeral 
services.  On  the  second  day  of  June,  1873,  I  received  a 
telegram  that  on  that  day  Rev.  James  Gilruth  was  trans- 
ferred from  earth  to  heaven.  I  proceeded  at  once  to  his 
residence  and  endeavored  to  improve  the  occasion  in  the 
choice  of  the  following  words:  "For  none  of  us  liveth  to 
himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself:  for  whether  we  live, 
we  live  unto  the  Lord;  and  whether  we  die,  we  die  unto 
the  Lord;  whether  we  live,  therefore,  or  die,  we  are  the 
Lord's."  After  the  services  at  the  house,  we  all  repaired 
to  the  beautiful  cemetery,  near  the  city  of  Davenport,  where 
our  aged  father  and  friend  was  deposited  to  await  the  sum- 
mons of  the  trump  of  God.  What  a  life  and  what  a  history 
was  this!  His  parents  came  from  Scotland  in  an  early  day 
and  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river,  in  Scioto  county, 
Ohio.  It  was  then  a  wilderness;  without  society  or  any 


332  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  the  blessings  of  a  Christian  or  civilized  life.  For  many 
years  the  sound  of  the  gospel  was  not  heard,  the  advanta- 
ges of  education  not  enjoyed,  and  "  society,  friendship  and 
love,  divinely  bestowed  upon  man,"  was  confined  to  a  lim- 
ited few.  The  rnortar  was  their  mill,  corn-meal  was  their 
flour,  and  cold  water  their  coffee.  Their  festivals  were  on 
Christmas  enlivened  with  their  stories  of  hunting  and  fish- 
ing; and  their  nightly  music  the  hoot  of  the  owl,  the  howl- 
ing of  the  wolf  or  the  scream  of  the  panther.  Growing  up 
in  his  early  days  under  these  influences,  without  any  church 
organization,  Brother  Gilruth  became  a  wild  youth  and  de- 
lighted in  amusements  and  feats,  often  at  the  expense  of 
his  own  friends.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  or  twenty,  pos- 
sessing great  physical  strength  and  activity,  on  his  way  up 
the  Ohio  river,  on  horseback,  he  overtook  a  Mr.  Webb, — 
the  family  well-known  to  the  writer, — who  was  a  large, 
bony  man;  and  he  riding  a  small  pony,  the  boy  proposed 
that  he  should  take  turns  with  his  animal  and  ride  half  of 
the  time.  This  proposition  met  with  a  quick  response  from 
Mr.  W.;  one  word  brought  on  another,  until  a  banter  was 
given  by  Mr.  G.  for  a  test  of  their  strength  in  an  honorable 
fight.  I  call  it  honorable,  because  they  had  agreed  that 
nothing  unfair  should  take  place,  and  that  when  one  cried 
enough  the  other  should  desist.  The  terms  agreed  upon, 
at  it  they  went,  and  for  a  long  time  victory  seemed  to 
quiver  in  the  balance;  the  boy  had  the  advantage  in  activity 
and  muscular  power,  but  the  man,  in  age  and  skill  in  the 
contest;  and  in  this  way  the  battle  raged  till  both  were  com- 
pletely exhausted  and  very  glad  to  adjourn.  Thus  it  was  a 
drawn  battle,  and  in  after  years,  in  his  ministerial  life,  how 
often  was  he  heard  to  say:  "This  was  the  turning  event  of 
my  life;  had  I  come  out  victorious,  it  would  have  spoiled 
me,  but  receiving  such  a  backset  from  the  brawny  fist  of 
that  son  of  the  wilderness,  I  had  no  further  ambition  to 
repeat  the  history." 

Often,  as  herald  of  the  Cross,  have  I  rode  over  the  very 


VlfSIT     TO     THE     OLD     HOMESTEAD.  333 

ground  where  this  battle  was  fought,  and  preached  the  gos- 
pel in  the  house  of  Mr.  Webb,  of  Lawrence  county,  Ohio. 
Shortly  after  this  event  Bro.  G.  married  a  Miss  Kouns,  a 
Christian  lady  of  the  same  county,  who  lived  but  a  short 
time,  and  on  her  death-bed  secured  the  promise  of  her  hus- 
band that  he  would  seek  religion  and  prepare  to  meet  her 
in  heaven.  James  Gilruth  was  not  the  man  to  violate  his 
pledge;  and  on  her  grave,  a  short  time  after  her  death,  he 
was  brought  out  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of 
God.  Such  was  the  change — the  lion  having  become  a 
lamb — that  the  church  set  him  right  to  work,  and  as  far 
back  as  1819,  he  entered  the  old  Ohio  conference  as  a  travel- 
ing minister.  When  I  was  appointed  a  class-leader  in 
French  Grant,  his  mother,  a  noble-hearted  and  intelligent 
Scotch  woman,  became  a  member  of  my  class  in  1837,  and 
continued  such  until  her  death. .  In  his  visits  to  his  mother 
and  brother  William  who  lived  near,  I  first  formed  his 
acquaintance  and  listened  to  his  discourses.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  rose  far  above  himself  in  spiritual  power  and  effect, 
when  he  referred  to  his  father  (now  dead)  and  mother  sit- 
ting before  him,  and  how  he  would  undo  some  of  his  past 
history,  in  his  conduct  toward  them,  if  he  possessed  the 
power;  but  the  past  was  unalterable,  and  all  that  remained 
were  confessions  for  its  follies  and  redemption  for  its  future; 
and  here  his  tears  fell  like  rain.  The  mighty  man  became 
a  child,  and  the  soul  that  hardly  ever  knew  fear,  for  a  time 
was  humbled  to  the  dust.  A  few  years  subsequent,  his 
aged  mother  left  for  the  church  triumphant,  and  the  son 
hearing  of  her  illness,  made  all  dispatch  to  witness  her 
departing  hours  and  receive  her  last  blessing.  But  he  was 
too  late.  On  the  day  after  her  burial,  I  met  him  hurrying 
to  the  old  homestead,  and  was  the  bearer  of  the  message 
that  his  mother  had  departed.  And  there  together,  the 
minister  and  class-leader  took  time,  each  to  shed  the  tear 
of  sorrow  for  the  loved  one  gone.  As  years  rolled  round, 
and  I  became  a  co-laborer  in  the  work  of  the  ministry, 


334  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

whilst  stationed  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  Brother  Gilruth, 
with  his  family,  came  to  that  city,  intending  in  the  vicinity 
to  spend  his  days.  I  received  their  letters  of  recommenda- 
tion and  they  all  became  members  of  that  charge  in  the 
spring  of  1851. 

During  his  labors  in  fitting  up  his  home  in  the  country, 
/  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  he  often  preached  for  me,  but 
age  and  experience  had  modified  his  manner  very  much 
compared  with  sermons  in  his  younger  days.  He  had  now 
learned  the  same  lesson  as  my  brother  minister  in  Ohio. 
When  asked  the  reason  why  he  was  less  boisterous  and 
loud  than  in  former  years,  answered  that  "  He  then  thought 
it  was  the  thunder  that  split  the  tree,  but  he  had  since  learned 
that  it  was  the  lightning  that  did  the  execution."  And  so 
thought,  practically,  Brother  Gilruth,  for  the  mountain  tor- 
rent had  become  the  clear  and  quiet  stream.  Six  or  seven 
years  from  this  date,  having  his  home  matters  satisfactorily 
arranged,  he  applied  for  admission  into  the  Upper  Iowa 
conference,  at  Marion,  when  I  was  called  upon  as  an  old 
friend  and  acquaintance  to  represent  his  case.  Being  pre- 
siding elder  of  Sioux  City  district  at  that  time,  Bishop 
Ames  inquired  of  me  if  I  would  be  willing  to  receive  him 
on  my  district.  I  responded  yes,  and  he  was  admitted,  and 
continued  with  us  until  the  day  of  his  death.  After  he 
entered  the  ministry  in  Ohio  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Miss  Westlake,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage,  who 
still  survives  him,  and  now  resides  with  her  daughter  and 
her  son-in-law,  Brother  and  Sister  Kynett,  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia. 

Of  this  aged  veteran  of  the  Cross,  pages  might  be  writ- 
ten. Fifty-four  years  had  passed  since  he  entered  upon 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  more  than  forty  in  the  active 
field.  Hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  had  been  saved  during 
that  period  as  fruits  of  his  labors,  who  are  now  enjoying 
with  him  the  fellowship  of  heaven.  Such  a  man  physi- 
cally, as  he  was  in  his  prime,  very  few  men  have  been  per- 


DISCUSSION     WITH     A     SKEPTIC.  335 

mitted  to  see.  He  was  literally  a  giant  in  strength  and 
activity.  Brother  Church,  of  French  Grant,  Ohio,  and  fel- 
low-soldier of  the  same  regiment  in  the  war  of  1812, 
informed  me  that  he  could  outrun  or  throw  down  any  man 
in  the  army,  seemingly  with  the  greatest  ease.  To  give  the 
reader  a  further  idea  of  his  wonderful  powers:  at  Brush 
Creek  Forge,  a  large  iron  which  two  men  had  carried  out 
into  the  yard  on  a  bet,  Brother  G.,  wishing  to  hitch  his 
horse,  with  one  hand  set  up  against  a  stump  and  made  it 
a  hitching-post.  In  two  instances,  men  came  quite  a  dis- 
tance to  test  their  strength  with  his,  and  returned  home 
conscious  of  their  inferiority.  But  time  levels  all  distinc- 
tions, and  soon  the  giant  lies  as  helpless  as  the  little  child. 
The  journey  of  eighty  years  brought  him  to  the  same  gate 
through  which  we  all  must  pass,  and  when  he  came  to  enter, 
a  gracious  hand  conducted  him  safely  through;  and  thus 
ended  his  history  on  earth  to  commence  in  heaven.  In  this 
rather  extended  sketch  I  have  felt  justified,  not  only  in  view 
of  his  ministerial  history,  but  in  my  relations  to  him  and 
his  family;  and  I  doubt  not  but  this  tribute  to  his  memory 
will  be  read  with  interest  by  thousands  of  his  former  friends, 
and  his  name  will  be  perpetuated  by  his  valuable  book — 
"  Man's  Infallible  Guide,  both  for  His  Faith  and  Practice." 
Like  many  other  charges,  Wyoming  had  a  country  ap- 
pointment, about  three  miles  out,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
there  lived  a  noted  skeptic,  who,  like  most  persons  of  that 
class,  concluded  that  he  could  demolish  the  Christian  relig- 
ion if  he  had  a  fair  chance.  So  he  met  me  at  one  of  my 
appointments  and  invited  me  home  for  dinner.  I  was  aware 
of  his  object,  and  so  I  went  well  prepared.  After  dinner 
he  squared  himself  for  battle,  but  I  proposed  that  our  dis- 
cussion should  be  respectful  and  fair,  and  no  vulgarities 
should  be  employed  during  our  debate,  to  which  he 
assented.  He  commenced  with  much  self-assurance,  as 
though  there  was  only  one  side  to  the  question.  He  seemed 
to  think  it  very  unreasonable  that  God  who  had  all 


336        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 

power  should  require  ages  to  bring  into  maturity  what  he 
could  accomplish  in  a  day;  for  instance,  the  enlightenment 
and  conversion  of  the  world.  I  stated  that  his  power  does 
not  conflict  with  his  wisdom;  and  that  his  wisdom  assures 
us  that  in  almost  every  department  he  honors  the  law 
of  gradual  development.  As  an  illustration,  he  might 
have  created  for  the  forest,  full-grown  trees,  but  he  has 
been  pleased  to  furnish  the  oak  from  the  acorn.  He  might 
have  furnished  us  at  once  the  full-grown  man,  but  he  has 
seen  it  best  to  begin  with  the  child.  A  few  such  facts  dis- 
concerted the  champion,  and  he  took  a  new  departure.  He 
next  dwelt  upon  the  mysterious  conception  of  our  Saviour, 
as  an  argument  against  his  divinity.  I  replied  that  this  was 
the  strongest  evidence  of  its  truth,  for  if  with  our  limited 
capacities  we  could  have  mastered  the  whole  idea,  we  might 
have  doubted  its  reality;  but  this  is  like  many  other  things 
to  which  we  assent/W/y,  though  the  methods  of  their  being 
are  all  unknown  to  us.  But  the  most  unpleasant  occur- 
rence of  the  hour  to  him  was  my  quotation  from  Rousseau, 
magnifying  the  person  of  Christ.  This  was  such  a  home- 
thrust  that  it  made  him  angry,  when  he  violated  the  rule 
that  we  agreed  upon  to  govern  us  in  our  debate.  I 
reminded  him  of  this,  when  he  wound  up  the  discussion  by 
remarking:  "  That  if  we  could  not  agree  upon  religious  sub- 
jects, we  were  friends  in  politics,  and  this  last  element 
'covered  a  multitude  of  sins.'"  Some  of  his  objections 
reminded  me  of  the  skeptic's  attack  upon  Uncle  Elisha 
Warner,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  "  You  believe," 
said  he  to  Brother  Warner,  "  that  Elijah  was  translated  to 
heaven,  do  you  not?"  "Certainly,  I  do,"  was  the  answer. 
"  But,  Uncle  Elisha,  do  you  not  know  that  it  is  a  fact  in 
philosophy  that  a  man  cannot  live  beyond  two  or  three 
miles  up  in  the  air?  he  would  freeze  to  death.  What  say 
you  to  that?"  "What  do  I  care  about  your  philosophy," 
said  Brother  W.;  "Elijah  took  his  own  fire  with  him  and 


CONCLUDING  LABORS  IN  IOWA.       337 

burned  his  way  through"     This  was  a  settler,  and  the  infi- 
del after  this  gave  him  a  wide  berth. 

But  I  must  bring  my  remarks  to  a  conclusion,  so  far  as 
this  city  is  concerned,  as  I  have  devoted  already  about 
twenty  pages  to  this  chapter.  I  trust  that  when  the  events 
of  time  shall  be  known  and  fully  revealed,  that  my  labors 
and  efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  this  charge  in  1873 
will  be  approved  by  the  Master;  and  should  this  be  the 
crown  that  I  shall  secure  in  that  great  day,  it  will  outweigh 
all  human  interests  and  rewards.  Winding  up  here  my  pas- 
toral labors  of  nearly  thirty  years  in  the  territory  and  state 
of  Iowa,  it  imparts  an  unspeakable  pleasure,  that  during 
all  that  time  I  have  preserved  a  clear  conscience  and 
have  had  an  eye  single  to  the  glory  of  God.  Oh,  what 
riches  can  be  compared  with  the  riches  of  divine  grace! 
What  honor  can  measure  up  to  the  honor  that  comes 
from  God!  It  might  be  proper  here  to  say,  that  at 
the  ensuing  conference  held  at  Dubuque,  I  consented 
to  receive  the  relation  of  conference  evangelist  for  the 
coming  year,  and  in  this  work  I  continued  until  the  spring 
season,  when  I  repaired  to  my  home  in  Michigan  to  enjoy 
the  quiet  of  domestic  tranquility.  It  affords  me  much 
pleasure,  however,  to  recall  the  interesting  seasons  passed 
at  Blairstown  with  Brother  Bargelt;  Sabula,  with  Brother 
Manning;  and  Camanche,  with  Brother  Waite.  And  though 
we  did  not  realize  all  that  we  could  have  desired  in  the 
salvation  of  souls,  the  faithful  labor  performed  will  not  be 
forgotten  in  the  awards  of  the  crowning  day.  At  Sabula, 
however,  we  had  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,  and  the  fruits  of  that  meeting  are  still  to  be  seen. 
Since  retiring  from  the  regular  work,  and  making  it  my 
home  the  most  of  the  time  in  Michigan,  I  have  been  labor- 
ing in  the  good  work,  as  my  strength  would  permit,  culti- 
vating new  fields  and  adding  new  friendships.  What  a 
comfort  it  is  to  know  that  in  every  station  there  is  some- 
thing to  do,  as  well  as  something  to  suffer,  and  that  warm 
23 


338  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

hearts,  noble  and  true,  are  everywhere  to  be  found  where 
Jesus  reigns  victorious.  And  when  standing  on  the  immor- 
tal shores,  and  numbering  the  precious  spirits  there,  com- 
ing up  from  different  charges,  I  shall  not  set  aside  the 
valued  friends  I  have  learned  to  prize  in  the  state  of 
Michigan.  My  next  chapter  will  include  some  of  its  history 
and  interests. 


CHAPTER     XLI. 

In  passing  from  Iowa  to  Michigan  about  this  time,  I  ran 
a  very  narrow  risk  of  my  life.  No  money  would  induce 
me  to  encounter  the  same  experience,  and  nothing  but 
God's  protecting  care  brought  me  safely  through.  The 
same  God  that  preserved  Daniel  stood  by  me.  The  facts 
are  soon  told.  I  arrived  in  Chicago  about  four  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  a  hack  took  me  at  once  to  the  depot  of  the  Michigan 
Central.  As  the  train  for  Michigan  started  early,  I  sup- 
posed that  a  number  of  persons  would  be  there  in  waiting 
for  a  passage;  but  when  I  arrived,  I  was  the  only  per- 
son to  be  seen.  Descending  from  the  hack  and  walking  to 
the  waiting-room,  I  heard  quick  steps  behind  me,  and  as  I 
entered  the  door  and  closed  it,  my  pursuer  made  an  effort 
to  push  it  open.  I  braced  myself  against  it,  and  said  to 
him  in  defiant  tones,  "  that  if  he  opened  that  door  he  did  it 
at  his  peril!"  This  checked  his  efforts,  and  soon  the  step 
of  the  policeman  was  heard,  when  he  made  good  his  retreat 
and  I  was  relieved.  I  learned  that  morning  that  a  new 
reinforcement  of  these  scamps  had  just  come  from  the 
South,  and  this  doubtless  was  one  of  them.  Had  I  not 
quickened  my  steps,  or  had  I  permitted  him  to  enter,  I 
should  have  been  at  his  mercy.  But  I  had  committed  my- 
self to  the  Lord,  and  he  was  "faithful  that  promised."  I 
never  think  of  this  rescue  without  feeling  a  heart  to  praise 
the  Lord  for  the  deliverance. 


REMARKABLE     HISTORY.  339 

In  setting  out  upon  my  labors  in  this  state,  I  was  re- 
minded that  human  nature  was  everywhere  the  same;  the 
restraining  influence  of  God's  grace,  and  the  enlightening 
culture,  making  the  difference.  Not  long  after  my  pur- 
chase near  "  Heath's  Corners,"  a  small  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  was  organized,  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Force  was  appointed 
pastor.  I  was  one  of  the  original  members  in  this  organiza- 
tion, and  our  pastor  being  young  in  experience,  he  looked 
to  me  for  counsel  and  assistance.  It  was  my  highest  joy  to 
contribute  all  the  help  within  my  power,  and  in  our  united 
efforts  through  the  year  an  attachment  was  created  between 
us  and  his  family  which  will  endure  forever.  During  the 
winter  months  I  assisted  him  about  two  weeks  at  "  Hull's 
School-house,"  in  a  revival  of  great  power.  Some  who  were 
saved  at  that  meeting  have  entered  into  rest,  whilst  others 
are  filling  their  places  in  the  church  of  God.  I  often  think 
of  that  precious  season,  and  the  souls  that  were  brought  out 
into  light. 

It  was  during  this  year  (1868)  that  the  building  of  the  M. 
E.  church  in  Benton  Harbor  commenced,  which  has  had  such 
a  marvelous  history.  I  am  satisfied  that  no  church  building 
in  the  state  of  Michigan,  of  the  same  age,  can  rival  it  in 
historic  importance;  and  the  determined  and  persevering 
efforts  of  Rev.  E.  A.  Whitwam,  assisted  by  a  few  faithful 
brethren  in  the  charge,  in  erecting  a  beautiful  house  of  wor- 
ship upon  the  ruins  of  the  old  one,  deserve  all  praise.  To  this 
church,  under  the  pastorate  of  Brother  Force,  I  contributed 
at  first,  fifty  dollars,  with  the  understanding  that  a  house 
should  be  erected,  costing  about  seven  thousand  dollars. 
But  instead  of  this,  when  dedicated,  it  had  reached  the  vast 
sum  of  eighteen  thousand;  and  thus  its  singular  history  was 
continued,  until  the  good  Being,  offended  and  insulted,  sent 
his  fiery  darts  into  its  tower;  and  in  an  hour  all  of  our  false 
pride  was  left  hanging  to  the  smoking  wreck.  At  the 
recent  dedication,  the  balance  of  the  indebtedness  remain- 
ing was  about  five  hundred  dollars;  one-third  of  which  .1 


340  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

propose  to  meet  if  the  brethren  of  the  charge  will  pay  the 
remainder  during  the  present  conference  year.  This  point 
reached,  we  shall  have  a  monument  of  worship,  an  orna- 
ment to  the  church  and  to  the  city,  and  one  that  will  extend 
its  blessings  to  future  generations. 

Our  pastors  in  this  city,  up  to  the  present  time,  have  been 
Brothers  Force,  Jacokes,  Worthington,  Hall,  Prouty,  Gos- 
ling, Starks,  Sparling  and  Whitwam,  men  whose  talents  and 
virtues  I  delight  to  cherish.  In  fact  my  ministerial  ac- 
quaintance with  the  preachers  of  Niles  district  has  been 
of  the  pleasantest  character.  The  presiding  elders,  Hall, 
Olds,  Robinson  and  Boggs,  have  commended  themselves 
by  their  labors,  and  secured  a  name  for  fidelity  to  the  Mas- 
ter which  will  live  in  the  church  long  after  their  transfer 
to  heaven.  Brother  Robinson  has  gone  on  to  test  its 
golden  streets  and  sing  its  new  song  a  little  in  the  advance 
of  his  brethren;  but  soon  his  fellow-laborers  will  hail  him 
on  the  other  shore.  One  of  the  pleasant  and  profitable 
seasons  of  labor  in  Michigan  was  at  Pipestone,  in  connection 
with  the  pastor,  Brother  Steele.  I  found  him  laboring 
under  embarrassments,  but  a  man  of  pure  worth,  and  our 
united  efforts  were  crowned  with  great  success.  About  the 
fourth  sermon,  when  discoursing  from  these  words:  "Blessed 
is  that  man  that  maketh  the  Lord  his  trust,"  the  clouds 
gave  way  and  victory  came  all  at  once.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  altar  was  crowded,  and  our  service  was  crowned  with 
clear  conversions  and  shouts  of  praise.  From  that  evening 
the  work  moved  forward  without  much  effort,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  second  week  we  all  rejoiced  over  our  complete 
success.  At  this  meeting  new  friendships  were  set  in  mo- 
tion, which  will  last,  when  we  have  no  farther  use  for  the 
sun  or  moon,  for  the  Lord  himself  will  be  the  light  of  the 
city.  I  seldom  have  left  a  meeting  with  greater  regret,  and 
but  few  with  greater  satisfaction,  for  I  was  aware  that  very 
many  had  entered  into  life  who  would  shine  in  the  coming 
kingdom  like  stars,  forever  and  ever. 


REVIVALS     AT     LAWTOtf     A  X  D     PORTER.         341 

But  what  can  exceed  the  pleasure  of  our  annual  gather- 
ings or  feasts  in  the  grove?  Several  of  these  have  I  at- 
tended since  my  residence  in  the  state,  and  they  have  been 
like  the  spicy  gales  to  the  weary  traveler,  or  like  springs  of 
water  in  a  thirsty  land.  At  Crystal  Springs,  how  striking 
the  emblem!  Here  are  the  pure  and  abundant  waters  pour- 
ing forth  from  the  fountain,  whilst  the  heralds  of  salvation 
are  crying,  in  the  name  of  Jesus:  "I  will  give  unto  him  that 
is  athirst,  of  the  water  of  life  freely"  "  and  he  that  drinketh 
of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  never  thirst."  Oh, 
what  multitudes,  during  those  years  of  refreshing,  who  came 
to  those  tents  thirsting,  have  gone  away  with  a  full  cup  and 
a  grateful  heart!  Old  Sister  Currier,  whose  prayers  and 
testimonies  often  raised  us  upward  to  that  pure  and  holy 
clime,  is  heard  no  more.  Brother  Burns,  who  preached  us 
all  up  to  heaven  upon  that  memorable  morning,  has  reached 
a  land  where  sinners  are  not  found  and  sermons  are  not 
needed.  Elder  Robinson,  who  swayed  his  scepter  of  love 
over  the  camp-ground,  has  now  exchanged  it  for  a  crown. 
Brother  Bliss,  who  sang  so  sweetly  a  few  years  since,  is 
now  attuning  his  powers  to  sweeter  music  in  loftier  strains. 
Brother  Joy,  who  discoursed  to  us  so  eloquently  last  year, 
upon  his  glorious  theme,  will  soon  know  what  is  meant  by 
this  beautiful  language:  "  In  thy  presence  there  is  fullness 
of  Joy,  and  at  thy  right  hand  pleasures  forevermore;"  and 
Brother  Boggs,  who  moved  among  us  so  pale  and  infirm, 
will  soon  reach  a  clime  so  healthy  "that  the  inhabitants 
never  say  they  are  sick."  I  have  mentioned  several  names, 
but,  oh,  what  precious  memories  come  up  to  my  view  from 
those  unmentioned  names  that  are  written  in  the  "  Book  of 
Life!"  A  few  more  revolving  years  and  we  shall  transfer 
our  "  camping-ground  "  to  the  groves  of  bliss.  During  the 
winter  of  1876,  Brother  J.  P.  Force,  now  stationed  at  Law- 
ton,  wrote  me  to  come  and  assist  him  in  protracted  services. 
We  had  labored  together  harmoniously  and  successfully  at 
Benton  Harbor,  and  now  he  desired  my  services  at  Lawton. 


4^  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

I  was  not  indifferent  to  the  call,  but  proceeded  at  once  to 
the  spiritual  battle-ground.  I  remained  with  him  not  far 
from  two  weeks,  preaching  every  evening,  the  good  work 
gradually  progressing,  when  I  returned  home  to  take  a  little 
rest,  preparatory  to  other  labors.  Within  a  few  weeks  the 
Macedonian  cry  came  up  from  Porter,  another  appointment 
of  his  work,  and,  with  armor  on,  I  hastened  to  the  conflict. 
Here  also  the  gospel  was  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion," and  before  the  meeting  closed,  scores  were  brought 
out  into  spiritual  life.  The  pastor  reported  as  a  result  of 
our  united  labors,  at  the  two  appointments,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  saved  and  added  to  the  church. 

On  my  way  from  Porter  to  Lawton,  in  company  with 
Brother  Force,  the  day  being  cold  and  stormy,  I  became  so 
chilled  that  when  I  reached  home  I  was  attacked  with 
pneumonia,  which  came  very  near  closing  up  my  days.  For 
several  weeks  I  was  not  expected  to  recover,  but  as  warm 
weather  approached,  I  came  up  gradually  until  I  was  so  far 
restored  as  to  be  able  to  visit  Ohio,  the  residence  of  my  son. 
It  was  to  me  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  that  my  campaign 
of  ministerial  labor  had  such  an  ending  as  that  at  Lawton 
and  Porter;  and  had  my  Master  then  called  me,  I  should 
have  raised  the  notes  of  victory  and  ascended  in  triumph. 
But  my  work  was  not  done.  In  the  month  of  June  I  re- 
turned to  Michigan,  but  feeble  in  health,  and  in  the  coming 
winter  I  was  prostrated  with  a  second  attack.  The  second 
one  brought  me  so  low  that  at  one  period  of  my  sickness 
my  pulse  ceased  to  beat,  and  angelic  music  seemed  to  charm 
the  departing  occupant;  but  at  this  point  the  Divine  hand 
arrested  my  progress  to  the  home  celestial,  and  the  pilgrim, 
leaning  on  his  staff,  left  "  foot-prints  "  again  upon  the  sands 
of  time.  But,  with  my  partial  restoration,  it  was  an  effort 
still  to  live,  and  in  the  spring  I  sold  out  my  effects  and  started 
once  more  for  Ohio.  My  relatives  and  friends  in  Michigan, 
as  they  shook  my  hand  upon  my  departure,  never  expected 
to  see  my  face  again  in  the  flesh,  and  my  impression  was  the 


O  L  D     H  O  M  E     I  N     E  L  M  I  R  A  .  34  3 

same;  but  instead  of  this,  my  Father  granted  me  a  kind 
reprieve  and  lengthened  out  my  days. 

Ohio — what  sacred  memories  linger  around  these  groves, 
and  what  enchanting  scenes  witnessed  along  its  streams.  It 
was  here,  in  early  life,  that  I  consecrated  my  being  to  God, 
and  here  he  placed  upon  my  heart. the  seal  of  divine  ap- 
proval. More  than  forty  years  had  now  passed  since  my 
name  was  recorded  in  the  church,  and  the  value  of  a  Chris- 
tian life  had  been  tested  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  It  was 
a  solemn  thought,  that  here,  in  Wheelersburg,  the  residence 
of  my  son,  only  one  grown  person  remained  besides  myself, 
who  occupied  its  dwellings  in  1834,  when  I  came  to  Ohio. 
But  this  was  a  part  of  its  present  history. 

For  many  years  I  had  been  anxious  to  visit  once  more  the 
land  of  my  nativity,  the  home  of  my  childhood  in  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  but  I  had  delayed  to  the  present.  Everything  now 
being  favorable,  in  the  month  of  May  I  took  the  boat  for 
Pittsburg,  and  in  a  few  days  reached  the  thriving  city.  I 
reached  it,  not  to  be  greeted  as  a  familiar  friend  or  brother, 
but  to  be  treated  as  a  lonely  stranger;  for  among  the  multi- 
tude of  the  friends  of  my  youth,  but  one  recognized  my  coun- 
tenance and  called  me  by  name.  My  own  aunt,  living  in 
the  city,  could  not  call  up  my  history  until  I  reminded  her 
of  our  relationship.  But  this  done,  her  heart  was  filled  with 
gladness  and  her  eyes  suffused  with  tears.  "  No  one,"  she 
said,  "is  more  welcome  than  yourself."  This  was  Aunt 
Olive,  the  oldest  of  the  family  living,  being  now  about 
eighty-two  years  of  age.  My  cousins,  Joseph  H.  Barney 
and  Luther  L.  Barney,  with  their  families,  all  had  been  born 
and  raised  since  I  left  this  youthful  home.  What  a  change! 
The  house  where  I  was  born  I  could  not  find,  for  stores  and 
mansions  now  took  the  place  of  the  humble  dwelling  where 
I  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  But  when  I  went  to  Chemung, 
and  visited  the  old  residence  of  my  grandparents,  with 
whom  I  passed  thirteen  years  of  my  youth  to  manhood,  the 
change  was  still  more  apparent.  I  asked  permission,  and 


344  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

passed  through  all  the  rooms  in  the  house — the  one  where 
we  played,  the  other  where  we  slept;  the  cellar  where  the 
rider  was  kept,  and  the  apples  stored  away — but  all  how 
changed!  I  then  visited  the  garden,  and  orchard,  and  old 
fishing  ground  where  I  caught  such  nice  strings  of  fish  in 
my  boyhood;  but  the  hand  of  time  had  taken  away  all  of 
their  familiar  looks,  and  I  felt  lonely  indeed.  Could  I  have 
met  old  "  Watch,"  our  domestic  dog,  as  he  used  to  meet  me 
in  my  youth,  it  would  have  been  quite  a  relief;  but  old 
"Watch"  was  not  there;  and  after  hours  of  travel  over  the 
old  farm,  I  sat  down  on  the  fence,  and,  like  the  Psalmist,  "I 
wept  when  I  remembered  Zion."  I  then,  with  careful  tread 
and  silent  awe,  entered  the  family  grave-yard,  where  re- 
posing was  the  dust  of  my  grandparents,  loved  and  honored 
more  than  fifty  years  ago.  What  visions  of  the  past,  what 
tender  recollections,  like  little  waves  beat  upon  my  heart; 
and  at  that  moment,  could  I  have  entered  their  room  and 
have  seen  them  seated  in  the  old  rocking-chairs,  as  they 
once  sat,  I  would  have  given  gold;  butjfa?1  in  the  history  of 
the  past  was  that  honor,  and  now  I  must  make  the  most  of 
the  vision,  and  hope  for  the  future.  As  I  left  this  little 
mound  so  sacred,  I  thought  how  appropriate  these  lines: 


f 


"  How  painfully  pleasing  the  fond  recollection 
Of  youthful  connections  and  innocent  joy, 
Whilst  blest  with  parental  advice  and  affection, 
Surrounded  with  mercies  and  peace  from  on  high.'''' 


But,  in  the  midst  of  all  these  changes,  united  to  painful 
and  melancholy  reflections,  God's  stars  which  illumined  rny 
pathway  in  childhood  were  shining  with  the  same  lustre; 
the  sun  had  not  withdrawn  one  of  its  rays,  and  the  moon 
was  still  shining  all  the  same;  and  when  in  the  bower  I 
knelt  for  prayer,  his  love  was  just  as  real  and  precious  as 
though  the  old  farm  and  buildings  had  stood  in  all  of  their 
pristine  glory.  Oh,  what  a  world  of  comfort  to  the  weary 
traveler  home,  that  whilst  change  and  decay  are  written 
upon  every  earthly  object,  Jesus  and  his  grace  are  the 


MINISTERIAL     FELLOWSHIP.  345 

same  "yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever."  After  my  visit  to 
Chemung,  I  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  widow  Taylor, 
in  Breesport,  wife  of  my  brother  Geroge.  This  brother  .had 
been  dead  many  years,  but  the  widow  and  two  children 
were  still  residing  in  the  place.  I  remained  three  days  with 
them,  enjoying  the  hours  pleasantly,  when  I  returned  to 
Elmira,  the  pleasant  home  of  my  cousins.  My  last  visit  was 
to  Ashland,  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts,  the  latter  an 
old  schoolmate  and  warm  friend.  She  knew  me  at  once, 
and  here,  with  my  aunt,  the  day  passed  pleasantly  away. 
Two  weeks  had  now  passed,  and  waving  a  final  farewell,  I 
returned  to  Ohio,  blessed  in  body  and  enriched  in  experi- 
ence. I  may  not  enjoy  another  such  a  repast  with  them  on 
earth,  but  a  richer  one  awaits  us  in  heaven. 

Upon  my  return  to  Ohio,  I  enjoyed  a  fine  opportunity  of 
extending  my  acquaintance  in  our  ministerial  associations. 
At  Haverhill,  my  early  home,  we  enjoyed  one  of  this  char- 
acter, which  was  truly  a  season  of  refreshing.  Surrounded 
by  many  of  my  old  scholars,  and  the  influence  of  ministerial 
brethren,  the  hours  passed  pleasantly  away.  Rev.  S.  M. 
Bright  was  the  presiding  elder  of  Portsmouth  district,  and 
conducted  the  exercises  with  much  ability.  During  the 
year  another  session  was  held  at  Wheelersburg,  where  I 
resided,  still  more  interesting  than  the  former,  owing  to  a 
larger  ministerial  attendance.  During  these  two  ministerial 
gatherings,  I  formed  a  very  pleasant  acquaintance  with  most 
of  the  ministers  of  the  district,  viz.:  Revs.  J.  W.  Peters  and 
T.R.  Taylor  of  Portsmouth;  Revs.  J.  F.  Williams  and  J.  S. 
Postle  of  Ironton,  D.  Stover  of  Beaver,  J.  R.  Tibbies  of 
Burlington,  D.  C.  Thomas  of  Hanging  Rock,  P.  Henry  of 
Lawrence,  J.  P.  Pillsbury  of  Lucasville,  and  T.  M.  Leslie 
of  Piketon.  With  Rev.  S.  M.  Bright,  the  presiding  elder  of 
the  district,  and  H.  Berkstresser,  the  pastor  of  the  Wheel- 
ersburg circuit,  I  had  formed  a  previous  acquaintance. 
Rev.  W.  F.  Filler  of  Portsmouth  circuit,  I  include  in  the 
above  list.  It  was  very  interesting  to  me  through  all  of 


346  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

these  exercises  to  mark  the  sameness  of  Methodism  every- 
where. Though  it  had  been  over  thirty  years  since  I  left 
Ohio,  my  spiritual  birthplace,  and  I  had  been  laboring  with 
new  men  and  cultivating  new  fields  of  labor,  yet  the  old 
Methodist  alphabet  was  just  as  familiar  to  me  as  though 
rivers  had  not  rolled  nor  mountains  rose  between.  Oh, 
how  transporting  the  thought,  when  standing  on  the  tower- 
ing cliffs  of  Colorado,  that  the  same  gospel  truths  that 
brought  its  multitudes  to  Christ  in  Scioto,  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  my  ministry,  were  still  salutary  to  save  in  that  far- 
off  land  of  gold.  These  ministerial  associations  are  not 
only  means  of  grace,  but  of  mental  culture;  they  bring  the 
pastors  and  the  people  into  closer  relationship,  and  seldom 
close  without  a  blessing  to  the  church  and  community 
where  they  are  held. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  we  were  all  startled 
with  the  solemn  tidings  that  Brother  Carr,  the  minister  on 
Wheelersburg  circuit,  was  drowned  in  attempting  to  water 
his  horse.  He  had  preached  the  evening  previous  at  Powells- 
ville,  and  the  following  morning,  with  his  child  in  his  arms, 
mistaking  the  proper  place,  he  was  precipitated  into  deep 
water  and  drowned  before  any  one  was  aware  of  the  catastro- 
phe. The  little  babe  was  observed  floating  on  the  stream, 
and  thus  signalized  the  fate  of  the  father,  and  was  dis- 
covered in  time  to  save  its  life.  The  memorial  services 
were  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Peters,  at  Sciotoville,  and 
his  remains  interred  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Wheelers- 
burg.  He  was  a  young  man  of  much  promise  to  the  church, 
and  such  was  the  unexpected  occurrence  that  we  could 
hardly  realize  the  painful  reality. 

"  Let  sickness  blast,  let  death  devour, 
If  heaven  must  recompense  our  pains ; 
Perish  the  grass  and  fade  the  flower, 
If  firm  the  word  of  God  remains.^ 

Such  was  my  state  of  health  during  the  fifteen  months 
that  I  remained  in  Scioto  county,  that  I  preached  but  four 


GOLDEN     WEDDING.  347 

sermons.  The  first  was  for  Brother  Peters,  in  Portsmouth — 
a  very  pleasant  service;  and  twice  for  Brother  Thomas;  the 
first  at  Hanging  Rock,  and  the  other  at  Haverhill.  What 
contributed  very  much  to  make  this  Sabbath  at  Portsmouth 
a  pleasant  one,  was  the  welcome  home  at  Brother  E  wing's, 
brother-in-law  to  my  son,  and  also  the  many  old  friends 
present,  to  whom  I  had  preached  in  former  years.  At  Hang- 
ing Rock  I  met  Brother  and  Sister  Henderson,  of  precious 
memory.  Brother  Henderson  was  one  of  my  old  associates 
before  either  commenced  a  religious  life;  but  now  we  meet 
again,  not  to  revel  in  sinful  pleasure,  but  to  bow  at  the 
Saviour's  feet,  and  magnify  saving  grace.  Here  I  shall 
never  want  for  a  pleasant  home.  At  Haverhill  I  preached 
from  "  But  this  one  thing  I  do:  forgetting  those  things 
which  are  behind  and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things 
which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  Though  the  day 
was  warm,  that  communion  season  will  not  be  forgotten. 
My  further  acquaintance  with  Brothers  Peters  and  Tavlor 
at  Portsmouth  only  served  to  strengthen  our  friendship, 
whilst  for  Brothers  Berkstresser  and  Thomas  there  were 
"  lights  along  the  shore  which  never  grew  dim." 

One  of  the  interesting  events  of  this  year  (1878)  was  the 
golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boynton,  of  Haverhill. 
This  occurred  on  Christmas  day,  and  was  an  occasion  long 
to  be  remembered.  The  writer  was  notified  about  a  week 
previous,  and  as  he  was  expected  to  act  as  chaplain  for  the 
company,  the  song  and  speech  were  all  in  readiness  at  the 
appropriate  time.  Mr.  Asa  Boynton  and  his  companion 
were  among  my  first  acquaintances  in  French  Grant,  Ohio, 
after  my  arrival  in  the  state.  For  several  years  his  chil- 
dren attended  my  school,  received  the  most  of  their  educa- 
tion under  my  tuition,  and  it  was  meet  that  I  should  be 
honored  as  chief  speaker  upon  an  occasion  of  such  impor- 
tance. Nearly  one  hundred  were  in  attendance  to  celebrate 
the  history  of  this  marriage  relation.  But  alas!  before  the 


348  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

next  Christmas  rolled  around,  Mr.  Boynton  had  been 
removed  from  the  family  circle  to  enter  upon  a  different 
relation.  Such  is  the  history  of  human  life;  and  happy  is 
the  man  who  is  ready — having  on  the  wedding  garment. 

The  next  service  I  attended  after  this  was  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Gilruth,  the  brother  of  Rev.  James  Gilruth,  whose 
sketch  is  given  in  a  former  chapter.  He  was  upward  of 
eighty  years — born  and  died  on  the  same  farm.  I  had 
known  him  for  forty  years,  and  in  the  winding  up  of  such 
a  life,  it  was  a  pleasure  for  me  to  state  that  his  firm  reli- 
ance and  trust  were  in  the  Almighty  power  to  save.  Five 
years  previous  I  attended  the  memorial  services  of  the 
elder  brother  in  Iowa;  and  now  in  Ohio,  I  stand  by  the 
younger  and  see  all  that  is  mortal  consigned  to  the  dust. 
Thus  our  strong  men  pass  away.  My  health  having  greatly 
improved,  and  duty  calling  me  again  to  Michigan,  I  decided 
to  return.  So  in  the  month  of  June  I  left  the  pleas'ant 
residence  of  my  son,  in  Wheelersburg,  with  its  many  sacred 
associations,  and  once  more  in  health,  greeted  my  many 
friends  who  had  looked  upon  my  face,  as  they  supposed, 
for  the  last  time.  Before  I  left  Southern  Ohio  we  enjoyed 
for  two  or  three  weeks  our  strawberry  feast,  and  when  I 
arrived  in  Michigan  it  had  just  commenced,  so  that  I 
enjoyed  at  least  six  weeks  the  luxury  of  this  queen  of 
berries. 

As  I  returned  to  the  residence  of  my  brother  Harvey, 
now  residing  in  Pipestone,  Berrien  county,  I  missed  the 
familiar  face  of  one  who  had  been  for  years  the  angel  of  the 
household.  Storm  or  sunshine,  sorrow  or  joy, — that  counte- 
nance moved  serenely  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  family 
history,  without  a  cloud  upon  her  brow  or  a  murmur  from 
her  lips;  but  she  is  not  there.  The  vision  remains,  but  the 
mother  has  departed.  Ella,  the  oldest  daughter,  with 
Mattie  and  Allie,  are  now  standing  up  in  order  to  bear  the 
burden  and  share  the  responsibilities  of  the  loved  one  gone. 
Very  few  left  in  the  same  relation  would  do  it  better,  and 


FRIENDS     IN     MICHIGAN.  349 

yet  it  is  not  easy  to  supply  a  faithful  mother's  place.  The 
boys  are  Harvey,  Willie  and  George, — all  still  at  home, 
save  Willie,  who  has  launched  out  to  make  a  fortune  in  the 
land  of  gold.  Having  passed  the  summer  and  winter  in 
the  family  of  my  brother,  in  the  spring  I  resumed  my  place 
at  my  pleasant  home  two  miles  south  of  Benton  Harbor,  at 
Heath's  Corners,  where  I  have  resided  the  past  year 
(1880-81)  in  one  of  the  most  pleasant  localities,  and  favored 
with  the  best  of  society. 

My  sister  Olive,  and  her  husband  James  Jackways,  a 
local  preacher,  live  within  four  miles  of  my  residence,  and 
with  them  I  often  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a  pleasant  visit  and 
a  rich  spiritual  repast.  It  was  here  (at  Heath's  Corners), 
on  the  sixth  of  December  last,  that  I  commenced  the  work 
of  writing  up  the  history  of  my  life  and  labors,  and  now 
the  second  day  of  May,  I  am  nearing  the  close.  Whilst 
engrossed  in  this  important  work,  my  mind  has  been  very 
pleasantly  relieved  by  three  or  four  letters  from  Kata 
and  Wesley,  my  grandchildren  in  Ohio.  They  are  quite 
juvenile  in  experience,  and  this  made  their  letters  the  more 
interesting.  A  copy  of  the  younger  would  be  of  interest 
to  my  readers,  but  I  will  reserve  this  for  another  chapter, 
adding,  that  it  is  a  capital  arrangement  to  induce  children 
to  begin  early  in  writing  to  their  friends.  In  addition  to 
these,  I  received  a  letter  from  a  cousin,  David  Landon,  liv- 
ing in  Parma,  Jackson  county,  Michigan,  whom  I  had  not 
heard  from  for  nearly  fifty  years.  He  is  the  son  of  Ezekiel 
Landon,  of  New  York,  the  brother  of  my  grandmother, 
Anna  Landon,  who  gave  me  my  name,  referred  to  in  the 
first  chapter  of  my  book.  But  I  am  reminded  that  my 
record  of  Michigan  has  already  embraced  about  fifteen 
pages;  and  as  much  as  I  should  delight  to  extend  it,  with 
an  interest  that  will  not  die,  and  a  friendship  which  will 
reach  beyond  this  life,  I  leave  with  its  many  valued  spirits 
the  precious  heavenly  benediction:  "  The  God  of  love  and 
peace  be  with  you." 


350  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER     XLII. 

The  company  of  children  and  youth  I  have  delighted  in 
since  the  days  of  my  boyhood.  How  often  in  riper  years 
have  I  gone  back  and  strolled  along  through  the  meadows, 
the  orchard  and  the  groves,  where  my  little  hands  plucked 
the  first  flowers  of  spring,  and  where,  by  the  stream,  I 
caught  strings  of  little  fish,  and  as  I  presented  them  at 
home,  received  the  honor  of  a  successful  fisherman.  But 
for  the  cleaning  and  preparing  them  for  the  morning  meal, 
it  would  have  been  sport  all  the  way  through;  but  this 
service  took  off  a  little  of  the  gloss,  which  was  borne  with 
patience,  in  view  of  &  fishing  day  to  come.  1  have  heard 
men  frequently  say  that  the  days  of  their  childhood  and 
youth  they  did  not  enjoy;  but  this  I  could  never  say,  for  I 
had  so  many  pleasant  playmates,  and  such  a  good  home, 
with  kind  parents,  that  I  love  to  dwell  upon  its  scenes  and 
pleasures.  There  is  one  thing,  however,  which  is  true  and 
natural  to  all  children,  and  were  it  not  for  this,  I  think  they 
might  be  happier  than  they  are.  Can  you  tell  me  what  this 
is?  If  not,  I  will  tell  you.  Most  all  young  persons  are 
very  anxious  to  become  men  and  women.  "  Oh,"  the  boy 
says,  "that  I  were  a  man!"  This  is  the  height  of  his  ambi- 
tion. But  could  the  boy  and  girl  lie  down  at  night,  and  find 
themselves  men  and  women  in  the  morning,  what  would 
they  do  with  themselves?  They  would  have  the  body,  and 
that  would  be  all.  Would  it  not  be  amusing  to  see  them 
carrying  around  a  large  body,  but  no  experience?  no  dis- 
cipline, no  education,  no  muscular  power?  In  fact,  it  would 
require  more  care  and  expense  to  provide  for  them  in  this 
condition  than  as  if  they  remained  children  in  size.  Do 
vou  not  know,  my  dear  young  friends,  that  it  requires  all 
the  training  and  discipline  of  youth  in  order  to  become  well- 
developed  men,  as  much  so  as  the  growth  of  the  body? 


FOR  CHILDREN  AND  YOUTH.          351 

You  have  seen  young  pigeons;  long  before  they  can  fly 
they  have  a  large  body  and  small  wings.  Now,  should  they 
attempt  to  fly  at  this  time,  you  see  that  their  weight  would 
bring  them  to  the  ground;  but  let  them  remain  in  their  nest 
until  their  feathers  are  grown,  then  they  can  fly  with  safety. 
And  thus  would  it  be  with  young  persons,  could  they  be 
men  and  women  at  the  age  of  children;  they  would  not  have 
the  knowledge  or  judgment  to  guide  them  in  safety  through 
the  experiences  of  life. 

But  this  is  not  all;  should  these  young  aspirations  be 
gratified,  we  should  be  left  without  any  children  in  the 
world,  and  this  would  result  in  great  injury.  Only  imagine, 
for  a  moment,  a  world  without  children  and  youth.  No 
little  pattering  feet  tripping  through  our  rooms,  no  playful 
sound  nor  hearty  laugh  coming  from  that  little  group  of 
boys  or  girls,  to  give  inspiration  to  the  passing  hours;  the 
merry  glee  and  joyous  hopes  have  all  been  transferred  into 
manhood,  and  now  every  school-room  and  play-ground  is 
forever  vacated.  What  a  state  of  society  we  would  have, 
if  little  boys  and  girls  could  at  once  become  men  and  women. 
We  that  are  older  need  the  thrilling  influence  of  joyous 
childhood  as  much  as  you  need  our  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence to  teach  and  guide  you  in  the  path  of  safety  and 
obedience.  My  dear  young  friends,  if  you  but  knew  it,  you 
might  be  the  happiest  beings  in  this  world,  as  you  have  but 
little  care  and  anxiety,  the  most  of  it  resting  upon  your 
parents;  and  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  eat  and  sleep  and  grow, 
and  then  to  become  wiser  and  better  every  day,  until  you  can 
stand  up  honorably  by  the  side  of  those  who  have  been  so 
much  interested  for  your  welfare.  Did  you  ever  think  that 
it  is  not  standing  up  six  feet  high,  or  weighing  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  which  makes  the  man,  but  it  requires  some- 
thing grander  than  these  to  make  the  true  man.  The  great 
poet,  Dr.  Watts,  says: 

"  I  must  be  measured  by  my  soul : 
It  is  the  mind  that  makes  the  man." 


352  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

I  was  called  upon  the  other  day  to  make  a  short  address 
Xt  to  the  Sunday-school;  and  though  some  of  the  scholars  were 
quite  large,  I  presented  some  simple  things  quite  new  to 
them.  I  inquired  why  it  was  that  every  one  of  them  that 
morning  had  brought  their  "  looking-glass "  with  them. 
They  were  a  little  surprised,  and  looked  around  to  see  one. 
Not  being  able  to  see  the  article  named,  I  asked  them  what 
they  were  looking  out  of.  One  answered,  "My  eyes." 
Then  I  explained  that  the  eye  was  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  a  small  looking-glass,  upon  which  (retina)  the  picture 
of  the  object  was  formed,  which  we  call  seeing;  just  as  our 
face  is  reflected,  standing  before  one  of  our  large  mirrors. 
The  scholars  seemed  delighted  with  this  simple  view  of  the 
subject,  and  all  acknowledged  that  the  eye  was  a  wonderful 
contrivance.  I  then  asked  them  what  they  intended  to  do 
with  their  drums  that  they  had  brought  with  them.  They 
saw  the  point  at  once  in  this  second  question,  and  located 
it  within  the  ear,  and  that  unless  this  drum  were  perfect 
the  hearing  could  not  be  good;  that  a  crack  in  our  musical 
drum  would  spoil  the  sound,  so  a  crack  in  the  drum  of  the 
ear  would  occasion  deafness;  that  very  much  of  our  enjoy- 
ment in  this  life  depended  upon  sight  and  sound.  I  charged 
them  further  with  brinaring  their  "receiving  drawer"  with 
them.  Not  one  of  them  was  innocent  of  this  charge;  and 
now  I  wished  to  know  where  it  was  concealed.  Not  one 
dared  to  speak,  and  such  a  looking  one  at  the  other  you 
have  seldom  seen.  To  help  them  a  little,  I  stated  that  it 
was  unlike  anything  else,  for  the  drawer  was  never  so  full 
but  that  it  could  contain  more.  One  little  boy  concluded 
that  he  had  found  the  key  to  the  answer,  and  he  cried  out, 
"  The  stomach!"  Some  seemed  to  think  that  it  was  possible 
to  fill  the  stomach,  though  in  some  cases  quite  difficult,  and 
they  concluded  that  it  must  be  something  else.  So,  after 
several  attempts,  one  said,  "  The  memory;"  and  thus  the 
guessing  ended.  Then  I  dwelt  for  some  time  in  showing 
them  the  value  of  this  faculty.  Without  it  we  could  learn 


EARLY     IMPRESSIONS     LASTING.  353 

nothing.  If  we  could  not  remember  anything,  nothing 
would  remain  with  us  and  the  mind  would  become  a  blank. 
Without  this,  we  would  not  know  our  own  friends  from 
strangers,  and  the  thief  and  murderer  could  never  be  de- 
tected. By  this  one  power  of  the  mind  we  discover  how 
much  we  are  indebted  to  our  Father  in  heaven  for  our  hap- 
piness and  improvement.  In  this  little  storehouse  we  begin, 
at  a  very  early  age,  to  lay  by  many  precious  articles,  and 
when  we  wish  to  see  them  again,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  pull 
out  the  little  draiver,  and  here  they  are  as  bright  and  fresh 
as  ever.  This  reminds  me  of  one  of  my  young  friends  in 
Iowa.  She  had  been  collecting  and  laying  aside  in  her 
drawer  choice  pieces  of  calico  of  different  colors,  until 
she  wished  to  make  them  into  a  fine  quilt.  When  this  time 
arrived,  there  they  were,  cat  and  shaped  and  quilted  in 
the  nicest  form;  and  these  little  scraps  became  one  of  the 
comforts  and  ornaments  of  the  household.  And  thus  it  is 
with  the  precious  little  scraps  of  life  that  we  lay  aside  in  / 
our  memory.  We  may  not  wish  to  use  them  but  little  for 
many  years,  but  after  a  while  we  have  some  important  work 
to  accomplish  and  we  cannot  succeed  without  looking  over 
the  little  drawer  and  examining  the  precious  material  that 
we  stowed  away.  There  is  another  item  of  interest  in  lay- 
ing up  treasures  for  the  memory — that  the  sooner  we  begin 
in  life,  the  fresher  and  more  real  they  are  when  we  wish  to 
call  them  into  use.  Should  any  of  my  youthful  readers  ever 
engage  in  writing  a  book,  as  I  have  been  doing  this  winter, 
you  will  then  know  that  it  is  much  easier  to  remember  what 
you  learn  in  childhood  and  youth  than  in  riper  age.  The 
reason  of  this  is,  that  when  young  our  minds  are  active,  and 
impressions  upon  the  memory  are  easily  made,  and  thus 
they  become  a  part  of  our  nature.  Your  paper  will  stick  to 
soft  wax,  but  it  will  not  to  a  hard  board;  and  it  is  as  true 
that  your  young  hearts  will  retain  early  impressions,  whilst 
old  persons  are  not  affected  by  them.  A  few  years  since  I 
cut  the  first  letters  of  my  name  with  my  knife  in  the  bark 
24 


354  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

of  a  young  tree.  Years  passed  on,  and  I  had  entirely  for- 
gotten it.  But  after  a  while  I  passed  by  that  tree  again,  and 
what  did  I  see?  Large  letters  had  been  formed  by  that 
little  incision,  in  the  growth  of  the  tree,  and  now  I  could 
see  "L.  T."  for  some  distance.  So  it  is  with  early  mem- 
ories: they  grow  with  our  growth  and  strengthen  with  our 
strength,  until  they  exert  a  strong  influence  in  shaping  our 
character  for  life. 

You  see  by  these  remarks,  my  dear  young  friends,  how 
important  that  we  treasure  up  in  our  memories  in  early  life 
those  things  which  are  true  and  pleasant,  instead  of  those 
of  an  opposite  character.  When  I  was  a  little  boy,  I  fre- 
quently fell  into  the  company  of  other  children,  who  would 
relate  stories  about  ghosts  and  frightful  things  seen  in 
graveyards;  until  I  was  so  influenced  that  I  hardly  dared  to 
open  the  door,  or  pass  at  night  the  home  of  the  dead.  This 
unpleasant  feeling  remained  with  me  until  I  was  nearly  a 
man  grown,  and  often  I  would  tremble  in  passing  these 
places  at  night.  This  was  all  wrong,  and  it  only  shows  the 
unhappy  influence  of  false  impressions.  How  dearly  did  I 
pay  for  such  marvelous  tales  through  all  of  my  early  his- 
tory, and  oft-times  I  made  a  show  of  bravery  by  whistling 
in  the  dark;  but  "  when  I  became  a  man  I  put  away  child- 
ish things;"  and  soon  I  felt  no  more  concern  in  the  ceme- 
tery than  in  my  father's  orchard.  I  wish  to  say  to  my 
young  readers  that  these  ghostly  tales  are  all  false,  and  if 
you  are  followers  of  that  which  is  good,  you  are  as  safe  in  the 
night  as  in  the  light  of  day.  The  importance  of  treasuring 
up  good  things  in  our  memory  in  early  life  is  clearly  seen, 
in  the  fact  that  they  often  shape  our  future  history,  and 
things  well  learned  at  that  time  are  not  easily  forgotten.  I 
very  well  remember,  when  a  child,  that  a  minister  at  my 
father's  house  took  me  up  in  his  lap,  spoke  kindly  to  me, 
and  said:  "  Before  I  put  you  down  you  must  spell  Con- 
stantinople." It  was  a  long  word,  but  he  continued  train- 
ing me  until  I  mastered  it,  and  I  never  forgot  it.  Though 


MOTHER     AND        DAUGHTER.  355 

I  had  not  yet  learned  my  letters,  I  was  able  to  spell  this 
word,  and  I  never  forgot  the  name  of  Selah  Stocking,  who 
taught  me  first  how  to  spell.  And  a  little  later  I  made  my 
first  speech,  on  the  last  day  of  school,  among  the  orators  of 
the  occasion.  That  speech  was  never  forgotten.  Shall  I 
repeat  one  or  two  of  the  verses: 

"  Large  streams  from  little  fountains  flow, 
Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow. 
You'd  scarce  expect  one  of  my  age 
To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage, 
And  if  I  chance  to  fall  below 
Demosthenes  or  Cicero, 
Don't  view  me  with  a  critic's  eye, 
But  pass  my  imperfections  by." 

Here  you  have  a  part  of  my  first  speech,  which  has 
remained  with  me  more  than  sixty  years,  and  I  think  in  the 
heavenly  company  will  not  be  forgotten.  This  little  item 
of  early  history  shows  the  endurance  of  early  memories, 
and  though  time  may  change  the  face,  and  age  may  impair 
the  system,  these  treasured  memories  lose  not  their  precious 
contents. 

No  historic  fact  more  forcibly  shows  the  power  of  early 
impressions  than  in  the  war  of  1759  between  the  English 
and  the  French.  During  its  progress,  the  Indians  in  the 
service  of  the  French  came  into  the  colonies  and  captured 
many  of  their  children.  Among  them  were  two  daughters 
of  a  widowed  mother.  For  many  years  she  had  heard  noth- 
ing from  them  as  to  their  fate.  When  the  war  closed,  which 
lasted  about  nine  years,  the  captives  were  to  be  returned, 
and  the  day  was  set  when  the  parents  were  to  meet  the 
commissioner  at  a  certain  place  and  claim  their  children. 
There  were  about  two  hundred  captives  present, — arranged 
in  two  rows, — with  their  faces  inward;  and  then  the  father 
or  mother  would  examine  one  row  on  the  one  side,  and  then 
the  other,  in  order  to  recognize  their  loved  ones.  The 
widow's  turn  came  who  had  lost  her  little  girls  eight  years 


356  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

previous;  but  with  all  her  intense  interest  her  daughters  were 
not  to  be  found.  Almost  overwhelmed  with  grief,  she  was 
about  to  give  them  up  for  lost,  when  the  commissioner 
remarked  to  her:  "  Your  children  may  be  present,  but  have 
grown  out  of  your  knowledge.  If  you  can  think  of  a  verse 
which  you  were  accustomed  to  sing  to  them  in  their  child- 
hood, they  will  be  likely  to  remember  it."  She  thought  of 
the  song  which  she  sang  to  them  at  that  age,  commencing 
thus:  "Alone,  alone,  yet  not  alone,  in  this  wide  world  of 
wo;"  and  scarcely  had  she  finished  one  verse  before  the 
oldest  daughter  rushed  toward  her  sorrowing  mother.  "  My 
mother!  my  mother!"  she  cried,  and  soon  the  two  daugh- 
ters were  in  her  arms.  Though  they  had  failed  to  remem- 
ber the  singer,  they  had  not  forgotten  the  song. 

The  above  fact  truthfully  illustrates  the  power  there  is 
in  early  memories,  and  the  moral  force  which  they  exert 
upon  the  young  mind;  and  in  some  instances,  a  few  kind 
words  spoken  at  this  time  have  been  the  turning  point  to  a 
glorious  history.  The  great  Dr.  Clarke,  when  a  boy,  was  a 
dull  scholar.  His  teacher  would  often  call  him  dull  and 
stupid,  which  inspired  in  him  but  little  courage.  A  neigh- 
boring teacher  looking  over  his  class  one  day,  told  him  that 
he  would  "yet  make  a  man"  and  all  at  once  it  gave  him 
new  inspiration.  From  that  day  the  youthful  Clarke  entered 
upon  a  new  life,  and  soon  distanced  all  of  his  youthful  asso- 
ciates, and  finally  became  one  of  the  most  learned  and 
devoted  men  in  the  Wesleyan  connection.  All  he  wanted, 
was  not  a  pulling  down,  but  a  raising  up;  and  in  this  way 
we  may  lend  a  helping  hand  to  many  a  struggling  spirit. 
If  you  can  induce  boys  or  girls  to  believe  that  they  are  of 
little  consequence,  and  can  never  amount  to  anything,  they 
have  but  little  ambition  beyond;  but  on  the  other  hand,  can 
you  induce  them  to  raise  a  high  standard  of  human  charac- 
ter, and  work  to  that  point,  it  is  astonishing  how  much  may 
be  accomplished  in  a  short  time.  I  would  then  say  to  my 
young  friends,  "  never  be  discouraged."  Though  you  may 


WORTH     OF     A     SOUL.  357 

not  possess  the  same  talents  of  others,  you  have  those  which 
your  Father  in  heaven  sees  it  best  for  you  to  possess;  and  if 
you  improve  them  well,  in  the  rewards  of  the  coming  day^ 
your  crown  will  be  as  bright  and  your  mansion  as  rich  as 
though  greater  gifts  had  been  bestowed.  He  is  not  the 
most  richly  rewarded  to  whom  the  most  is  given,  but  the 
one  who  improves  the  best  what  Tie  has. 

We  are  never  to  forget  that  our  business  in  this  world  is 
not  only  to  shine  upon  others,  but  to  assist  them  in  shining 
also.  The  diamond  in  its  native  state  is  often  rough  and 
uncouth,  and  before  used  it  has  to  be  polished,  and  some- 
times at  the  expense  of  thousands  of  dollars.  Queen  Vic- 
toria has  a  very  costly  one;  its  value  about  one  million  of 
dollars.  To  polish  it  properly,  cost  the  vast  sum  of  thirty 
thousand,  which  she  paid  to  the  jeweler;  and  all  this  to 
decorate  the  crown  of  a  mortal  who  is  soon  to  pass  away. 
In  like  manner  we  are  taken  in  the  rough  in  this  world,  and 
need  much  polishing;  even  before  we  are  prepared  to  fill 
our  places  with  profit,  we  need  a  great  amount  of  brighten- 
ing; but  there  is  a  jewel  down  in  the  rough  which  gold 
cannot  buy  and  thrones  cannot  purchase.  At  the  first 
thought  you  may  be  tempted  to  envy  the  queen,  in  view  of 
her  wealth — even  to  say,  "Oh,  that  I  were  as  rich  as  she  is!" 
but  you  are  in  possession — shall  I  call  it  a  diamond? 
Yes,  you  are  in  possession  of  a  diamond  of  greater  value 
than  all  the  precious  ornaments  of  Victoria.  That  soul  of 
yours  cannot  be  purchased  with  silver  or  gold,  or  precious 
stones;  but  in  its  redemption  it  cost  the  richest  gift  of 
heaven.  The  blessed  Saviour  gave  his  life  as  a  ransom 
price,  and  now  your  great  business  in  this  life  is  to  be  so 
shaped  and  educated — yea,  polished,  that  you  may  not  only 
be  prepared  to  fill  an  important  place  here,  but  to  shine  in 
the  heavenly  kingdom  like  the  stars  forever  and  ever.  My 
dear  young  friends,  I  wish  to  impress  upon  your  minds  that 
the  present  life,  with  all  of  its  blessings,  is  not  given  you 
merely  for  self-gratification  or  vain  show  for  a  few  short 


358  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

years;  but  to  prepare  for  a  better  and  nobler  destiny  in  the 
home  beyond  this.  And  what  is  so  grand  and  praiseworthy 
as  to  see  a  talented  youth  bending  every  energy  which  the 
good  Being  has  given  him,  to  excel  in  virtue  and  goodness 
here,  that  he  may  be  the  better  qualified  to  share  the  honor 
and  the  bliss  in  the  coming  ages.  You  have  passed 
by  the  nursery  when  the  trees  were  small — just  taking 
shape  for  the  future.  It  was  an  interesting  sight  to  see 
the  tree  in  its  incipient  state,  and  to  mark  the  care  of 
the  nursery-man  in  shaping  them  for  the  orchard.  But 
how  much  more  interesting  and  even  grand  to  pass  by 
the  orchard  in  its  maturity,  crowned  with  blossoms,  and 
then  bending  with  golden  fruit.  And  thus  it  is  pleasant  to 
see  the  indications  of  promise  in  children  and  youth;  for 
nothing  adorns  the  character  like  early  piety;  but  to  see 
manhood  and  womanhood  crowned  with  the  fruits  of  right- 
eousness, and  maturing  for  immortal  honors  awaiting  them 
in  the  glorious  home  beyond,  is  both  beautiful  and  sublime. 
Every  day  that  you  live  is  doing  something  to  shape  your 
character  for  better  or  for  worse.  Every  bad  habit  which 
you  form,  whether  swearing,  lying,  stealing,  gambling  or 
drunkenness,  will  contribute  to  make  up  vour  earthly  his- 
tory, which  an  angel  cannot  alter  and  eternity  cannot  change. 
How  many  boys  there  are  who  think  it  very  smart  and  man- 
like to  chew  or  smoke  tobacco,  when  they  scarcely  take  a 
thought  that  they  are  contracting  a  habit  which  will  cost 
them  a  thousand  regrets  in  coming  years,  and  if  they  live 
to  advanced  age,  will  cost  them  quite  a  little  fortune. 
Then  think  of  the  precious  time  spent,  as  well  as  money 
squandered,  in  smoking  or  chewing,  and  to  what  profit?  To 
debase  his  manhood,  poison  his  system,  pollute  his  mouth, 
and  often  his  face;  very  revolting  to  persons  of  good  taste. 
Besides  this,  the  use  of  tobacco  creates  a  perverted  appe- 
tite which  often  leads  on  to  drunkenness  and  ruin.  My 
dear  young  friends,  this  picture  is  not  overdrawn,  but  it  is 
a  plain  statement  of  facts.  If  I  were  assured  that  this 


THE     DANCE     OB     THE     ALTAK.  359 

counsel  would  induce  any  of  my  youthful  readers  to  shun 
this  pernicious  habit,  I  should  feel  richly  rewarded  for  the 
interest  that  I  have  taken;  for  rest  assured,  that  every  word 
of  caution  has  been  written  that  your  character  may  be  the 
purer  and  your  life  the  happier.  And  now  it  is  for  you  to 
decide  whether  you  will  become  a  noble  man,  and  an  hon- 
ored woman,  or  be  carried  on  by  the  influence  of  corrupt 
society  and  bad  habits  until  reformation  is  almost  hopeless 
and  your  usefulness  almost  blighted.  Yes,  it  is  for  you  to 
decide  whether  your  life  shall  be  a  glorious  success  or  a 
shameful  defeat.  Remember  this,  and  to  assist  you  I  will 
underscore  it:  "  That  nothing  can  be  substituted  for  a  good 
character"  You  may  be  called  cunning — you  may  be 
called  smart,  you  may  be  called  brave,  or  you  may  be  called 
wealthy  or  honorable,  or  even  commanding  in  appearance, 
but  the  day  in  your  history  will  soon  come  when  nothing 
will  stand  by  you  but  a  sincere  heart  and  an  upright  life. 
And  how  much  often  depends  upon  the  decision  of  a 
moment. 

A  traveler  on  horseback,  on  a  new  route,  was  passing  by 
a  flat-topped  rock,  and  near  the  center  he  saw  a  little 
bubbling  of  drops,  as  though  there  was  a  struggle  in  the 
water  beneath,  as  to  which  way  it  should  go.  The  stranger 
noticing  it,  took  his  finger  and  directed  the  little  which  had 
accumulated  upon  the  top  until  it  dropped  down  along  its 
side.  The  circumstance  was  entirely  forgotten,  when,  in  a 
few  years,  passing  that  way  again,  the  few  drops  directed 
by  his  finger  had  become  quite  a  small  stream  issuing  from 
the  rock,  still  retaining  the  same  channel  which  he  marked 
out  for  it  many  years  before.  And  thus  it  is  with  youthful 
decisions.  There  comes  a  time  in  youthful  history,  when 
the  drift  of  human  life  needs  a  little  aid  to  start  it  in  the 
right  direction.  In  a  word,  when  there  seems  to  be  a 
struggle  in  the  mind  which  way  shall  be  preferred,  the 
path  of  life  or  the  road  to  death — a  very  slight  influence 
at  that  time  will  decide  the  matter.  Like  the  finger  upon 


360  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

the  rock,  a  kind  word  from  a  dear  friend,  or  a  right  decision 
for  virtue  or  truth,  at  that  moment,  decides  the  soul's 
destiny  for  a  glorious  immortality.  What  great  pleasure 
would  it  aiford  the  writer  did  he  but  know  that  all  of  his 
youthful  friends  who  read  these  lines,  would  decide  now 
for  Christ  and  for  heaven. 

A  valued  friend  of  mine  gave  me  this  very  interesting 

f  fact  which  occurred  in  his  youthful  days.  In  company  with 
about  twelve  young  persons,  male  and  female,  they  started 

I  out,  one  Christmas  evening,  for  a  jolly  sleigh-ride.  Having 
traveled  several  miles,  they  came  to  the  forks  of  the  road, 
and  stopped,  in  order  to  decide  which  one  to  take.  After 
discussing  the  question  for  some  little  time,  my  friend  said 
to  the  driver:  "  The  left-hand  road  will  take  us  to  the  ball, 
some  three  miles  distant,  and  the  right-hand  one  will  take 
us  to  a  religious  meeting  of  great  interest.  Now,"  said  he, 
"  I  move  that  we  go  to  the  meeting  and  do  what  we  can  to 
save  our  souls,  instead  of  going  to  the  dance."  Said  another: 
"I  second  the  motion;"  whereupon  they  all  moved  off  in 
the  direction  of  the  scene  of  spiritual  interest.  Before  they 
returned  home  the  next  morning  the  entire  number  had 
embraced  religion,  united  with  the  church,  and  two  of  these 
became  eminent  ministers  in  the  church  of  Christ.  In  this 
instance,  how  much  depended  upon  a  right  decision.  Had 
they  decided  to  take  the  left,  and  passed  the  night  in 
revelry  and  mirth,  it  might  have  resulted  in  spiritual  ruin; 
but  this  inomentfS  decision  for  Christ  and  for  heaven  en- 
rolled their  names  in  the  "Lamb's  Book  of  Life,"  and 
settled  their  high  and  glorious  destiny  forever.  Think, 
then,  how  important  it  is  to  choose  that  "  better  part" 
which  will  bless  you  through  all  the  revolutions  of  time  and 
ultimately  give  you  a  seat  at  God's  right  hand. 

I  remember  well,  in  my  school-boy  days,  what  satisfac- 
tion it  gave  me  when  I  received  a  ticket  from  my  teacher, 
headed  "  The  Reward  of  Merit."  What  inspiration  it  gave 
me;  and  as  I  returned  home,  how  proudly  I  presented  it  to 


ENDURING     MEMORIALS.  361 

my  parents;  and  here  a  double  blessing  was  conferred  upon 
me.  This  little  incident  had  its  lesson.  Since  that  time, 
how  have  I  considered  it  as  a  simple  yet  truthful  illustration 
of  heavenly  rewards  for  a  life  of  love  and  obedience  to  God. 
If  it  were  a  pleasure  to  present  a  ticket  of  commendation 
to  our  earthly  parents,  showing  forth  our  good  behavior, 
what  will  be  the  satisfaction  and  the  joy,  as  life's  labors  are 
all  finished,  to  go  up  to  the  Divine  Master  and  present  to 
him  for  his  approval  the  certificate  of  a  faithful  and  holy 
life.  And  if  the  encouraging  words  from  our  natural  parents 
sent  such  inspiration  to  our  hearts,  what  joy  and  rapture 
shall  we  experience  when  Jesus  smiles  and  says  to  us: 
"Well  done,  my  boy — well  done,  my  little  girl;  thou  hast 
been  faithful  over  a  few  tthings,  I  will  make  thee  ruler 
over  many.  Enter  thou  into  the  joys  of  thy  Lord."  Oh, 
I  trust  that  thousands  of  my  dear  young  friends,  who  have 
been  so  much  interested  in  reading  this  chapter,  intended 
expressly  for  them,  will  meet  me  in  that  blessed  land  where 
we  shall  be  rewarded  according  to  our  works.  And  now, 
with  my  earnest  prayers  for  your  success  in  life,  I  bid  you 
farewell. 


CHAPTER     XLIII. 

There  is  a  curiosity  as  well  as  a  charm  in  being  intro- 
duced to  works  or  characters  of  great  antiquity.  And 
especially  is  this  the  case  where  the  object  of  interest  occu- 
pied an  important  place  in  the  world's  history.  It  is  in 
accordance  with  this  law  that  there  is  such  a  solemn  and 
reverential  awe  felt  by  us  in  visiting  the  sepulchers  of  the 
patriarchs  and  prophets.  We  seem  to  be  standing  almost 
at  the  other  end  of  the  history  of  our  race,  and  commun- 
ing with  those  who  talked  face  to  face  with  God.  What  an 
interest  clusters  around  every  step  taken  by  the  traveler  as 
he  visits  those  consecrated  spots  sanctified  by  the  presence 


362  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

and  prayers  of  Jesus  and  his  apostles;  and  even  the  old 
churches  and  parsonages  where  such  men  as  Wesley  and 
Whitefield  lived  and  labored  are  precious  memorials  of  his- 
tory. And  could  we  enjoy  the  privilege  of  a  personal 
introduction  to  either  of  these  great  and  good  men  at  the 
present  day,  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  would  not  be  con- 
sidered too  high  a  price  that  we  might  enjoy  the  satisfac- 
tion. These  valuable  interests  and  remembrances  would 
soon  be  lost  to  us  altogether  were  it  not  that  the  pen  of  the 
historian  has  kindly  transmitted  their  record,  and  we  are 
now  sharing  the  benefits  of  their  lives  and  influence. 

Such  is  the  motive  of  the  writer  in  presenting  a  few  brief 
sketches  of  our  aged  ministerial  brethren  in  the  present 
chapter,  and  though  I  have  not  .the  privilege  of  presenting 
a  Wesley  or  a  Fletcher,  yet  I  have  the  honor  in  giving 
those  elements  of  character  which  endear  those  great  names 
to  us.  Yes;  men  filling  the  same  position,  honored  by  the 
same  Saviour,  engaged  in  the  same  work,  and  awaiting  the 
same  high  and  holy  destiny.  And  though  their  monuments 
may  not  tower  so  high,  nor  their  lamps  shine  so  brilliant,  yet 
their  history  has  been  immortalized  by  the  good  accom- 
plished and  the  crown  secured.  What  can  be  more  sacred 
in  thought  or  rich  in  experience  than  to  stand  by  the 
side  of  those  aged  and  faithful  veterans  worn  out  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  to  hear  their  testimonies  of  praise  for 
mercies  past,  and  joyful  expectations  of  the  life  to  come. 
"  Tell  Brother  Taylor,"  said  an  old  pilgrim  living  at  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Iowa,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  "  that  I  am  all 
ready,  waiting  for  the  summons."  Yes,  Father  McDowell, 
you  "  have  fought  the  good  fight  and  kept  the  faith,"  and 
when  the  jewels  for  your  Master  shall  be  numbered  in 
heaven,  such  accessions  as  Adam  Miller  will  not  be  forgot- 
ten. And  although  age  and  infirmities  may  weaken  this 
house  of  clay,  old  and  tried  friends  may  have  all  passed  on 
to  the  spirit  land,  and  all  that  earth  has  in  store  to  satisfy 
human  cravings  may  be  nearly  exhausted,  yet  the  immortal 


SEE HARRIS H.     W.     HOUGHTON.  363 

nature  is  gathering  ripeness  and  a  fitness  for  a  purer  home 
and  richer  joys.  Oh,  what  a  period  in  the  history  of  the 
Christian  that  will  be,  when  we  shall  be  "  clothed  upon,  and 
mortality  shall  be  swallowed  up  of  life!" 

Among  the  number  included  in  this  brief  chapter,  I  will 
first  notice  Rev.  Michael  See.     Whether  his  angelic  name 
had  any  influence  upon  his  Christian  character  I  am  unable 
to  determine,  but  as  far  back  in  the  history  of  Iowa  as  1845, 
he  joined  that  conference,  and  was  a  member   of  the  same 
class  with  the  writer.     Sustaining  this  relation,  I  had  a  fine 
opportunity  of  becoming   well    acquainted  with   the  man. 
The  first  time  I  saw  him  was  at  a  camp-meeting  near  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  as  he  ascended  the  pulpit  to  exhort  at  the 
conclusion  of  a  sermon.     "  That  is  Michael  See"  remarked 
a  minister   near  me,  "  and    now    you  will    hear  a  stirring 
exhortation."     It  was  not  long  before  I  was  convinced  that 
he  was  correctly  reported,  and  though  it  required  no  critic's 
glass  to  discover  that  he  had  not  u  been  brought  up  at  the 
feet  of  Gamaliel,"  so  far  as  human  expressions  were  con- 
cerned, yet  it  was  no  less  evident  that  he  had  been  "  tarry- 
ing   at    Jerusalem  "  until    he    was   "  endued    with    power 
from  on  high."     Very  soon  it  was  apparent  to   all  present 
that  everything  else  was  lost  sight  of,  and  his  soul  was  all 
aflame  for  the  salvation  of  the  lost;  and  before  that  service 
closed  the  notes  of  victory  went  up  to  heaven  from  many 
sinners  saved.     Though  not  enjoying  the  advantages  of  a 
good  education  in  early  life,  he   possessed   those  important 
elements  of  character  which  qualified  him    for  usefulness, 
and  these  he  employed  very  successfully.     Had   his  mind 
been  improved  by  early  culture,  sanctified  by  divine  grace 
as  it  has  been  with  his  limited   advantages,  he  would  have 
shone  among  the  first  ministers;  but  using  well  the  talents 
which  God  gave  him,  the  best  part  of  his  life,  many  will  be 
the  stars  in  the  crown   of  his  rejoicing.     As  noticed  in  a 
previous    chapter,  Michael   See^  John   Harris  and  Landon 
Taylor  alone  remain  to  represent  the  large  class  of  twenty- 


364  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

five  members  who  united  with  the  Iowa  conference  in  Bur- 
lington in  1845.  Brother  See  is  now  approaching  his  three- 
score and  ten  years,  sustains  a  superannuated  relation  to 
his  conference,  and  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  a  happier  coun- 
try and  more  exalted  honors. 

I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  my  readers 
Horatio  W.  Houghton,  one  of  my  presiding  elders  when 
engaged  as  agent  of  the  American  Bible  society.  He  is 
about  my  own  age,  born  October  22,  1812,  the  difference  in 
our  ages  being  only  one  month  and  fourteen  days.  (So  far 
he  is  my  senior.)  He  was  born  in  Springfield,  Vermont, 
and  when  only  five  months  old,  by  the  death  of  his  father 
was  left  an  orphan.  As  he  grew  up  to  years  he  learned  the 
art  of  printing  of  his  brother  Horace  Houghton,  lately 
deceased,  who  published  the  Galena  Advertiser  for  forty 
years.  He  was  sensibly  converted  in  1835,  while  editing  a 
paper  in  his  native  village.  After  spending  a  short  time  at 
the  Biblical  Institute  at  Newbury,  Vermont,  he  joined  the 
Providence  conference  in  1844,  where  he  labored  success- 
fully thirteen  years.  Family  circumstances  demanding  his 
residence  in  Northwestern  Iowa  for  a  season,  he  came  to 
the  state  in  1857,  and  was  readmitted  into  the  traveling 
connection  at  the  second  session  of  the  Upper  Iowa  confer- 
ference,  held  in  Marion.  At  this  conference  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  Lansing,  where  he  remained  two  years;  then 
appointed  presiding  elder  of  the  Upper  Iowa  district 
four  years,  when  he  was  again  returned  to  Lansing.  He 
was  honored  by  his  brethren  to  a  seat  in  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1864,  and  for  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Upper  Iowa  university.  After  traveling  Dubuque 
district  from  1864  to  1868  he  was  stationed  at  Epworth, 
where  he  supervised  the  building  of  their  beautiful  church; 
personally  purchased,  raised  the  money  and  paid  for  the 
Epworth  seminary,  which  had  been  built  by  our  people  and 
had  passed  out  of  their  hands.  Since  which,  that  institu- 
tion .has  been  in  successful  operation  and  has  been  con- 


TRIBUTE     TOREV.     W  .     BRUSH.  365 

stantly  increasing  in   usefulness.     In  October  of  his  third 
year  in  Epworth  he  was  stricken  down,  caused  bv  a  diseased 
liver,  which  unmanned  him   for  years,  the  effect  of  which 
will  continue  to  some  extent  to  the  end  of  life.     Since  that 
affliction  he  has  resided  at  Lansing,  serving  the  church  one 
year  as   pastor;  and   at  New  Albin  organized  the  church 
and  erected  a  comfortable  house  of  worship,  besides  doing 
missionary  work   in  destitute   places.     In  the  responsible 
fields  of  labor  to  which  he  has  been  assigned,  he  has  been 
favored  with  a  very  intelligent  and  devoted  companion,  who 
has  been   to  him  like  a  right  arm^  and  in  some  instances 
filled  his  place  in  the  pulpit  when  he  was  unable  to  serve. 
Brother    Houghton   is  one  of  those  frank,  honest-hearted 
men  whose  spirit  can   be   known  at  the  first  reading,  and 
whose  judgment  is  of  the  first  order.     Instead  of  pander- 
ing to  the  defects  of  any  of  the  ministers  on   his  district, 
when  duty   required  he   would   kindly  tell    them  of  their 
faults  and  counsel  them  to  change   and  improvement.     In 
fact,  he  is  a  wise  counselor  and  a   never-failing  friend,  and 
I  doubt  not  but  there  are  scores  in  the  Upper  Iowa  confer- 
ence, grateful  to  God  for  his  salutary  influence  during  the 
twenty-four  years  that  he   has  lived  and  labored  with  us. 
It  needs  no  skillful  scribe   to  record  his  fidelity,  or  pencil - 
sketch    to    ornament   his   character,    for"  they    have    been 
engraven  in  the  hearts  and  confidence  of  his  brethren  by  a 
long  and  useful  life;  and  when  the   faithful  ministers  of 
the    Upper   Iowa,    and    other   folds,    shall    bring   in    their 
sheaves   in   abundance    in   the    presence    of    the    Master, 
Brother  Houghton  will  not  come  up  empty-handed.     And 
as    I    now    linger    around    the    borders   of    his   valuable 
history,    my    soul    exults    in     the    prospect     of     that    day 
when    we     shall    be    crowned    heirs    of    a    glorious    im- 
mortality. 

There  are  many  honored  names  among  the  aged  ministers 
in  Iowa  that  I  would  be  pleased  to  notice  in  this  chapter, 


366  T  II  E     I',  A  T  T  L  E     FIELD     R  E  V  I  E  \V  E  D  . 

but  as  space  will  not  permit,  I  must  close  with   the  follow- 
ing tribute  to  Dr.  Brush: 

Rev.  Win.  Brush,  D.  D.,  was  born  at  New  Fairfield,  Conn., 
Feb.  1.9,  1827.  In  his  nineteenth  year  he  was  converted  at 
Amenia  seminary,  New  York,  while  pursuing  his  prepara- 
tory course  for  college.  He  entered  the  Wesleyan  univer- 
sity in  1846.  After  remaining  there  one  year,  he  entered 
the  sophomore  class  in  Yale  college,  and  in  three  years 
graduated  among  the  first  of  a  class  of  about  one  hundred 
students.  Four  weeks  after  his  graduation,  he  was  married 
to  a  Christian  lady  residing  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  of  superior  mind, 
deep  religious  experience,  and  in  full  sympathy  with  all  the 
interests  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  who  has 
been  to  him  a  congenial  and  efficient  life-companion.  In 
the  spring  of  1851,  he  joined  the  New  York  conference,  and 
after  preaching  there  seven  years,  was  transferred  to  the 
Upper  Iowa,  and  stationed  at  Dyersville.  During  his  second 
year  in  that  charge,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Upper 
Iowa  university,  and  remained  in  charge  of  the  institution 
about  ten  years,  during  which  time  the  university  gained  a 
fine  reputation  for  scholarship,  and  its  financial  condition 
greatly  improved.  On  resigning  the  presidency  he  was 
appointed  presiding  elder  of  Charles  City  district.  In  his 
fourth  year  in  that  relation,  he  was  transferred  to  the  West 
Texas  conference,  to  take  charge  of  a  large  district.  Here 
his  work  was  arduous,  and  attended  with  great  responsibili- 
ties, and  mainly  occupied  in  planning  and  laying  founda- 
tions; yet  many  societies  were  organized  and  churches  built 
under  his  supervision.  He  not  only  gave  a  new  impetus  to 
our  colored  work,  but  did  much  to  mould  the  policy  of  our 
church  for  a  hopeful  future  on  other  lines.  When  Dr.  Brush 
entered  upon  that  field  of  labor  our  branch  of  Methodism 
was  not  represented  by  a  solitary  church  among  all  the 
English-speaking  white  people  of  Texas;  now  we  have  a 
vigorous  and  prosperous  conference  covering  the  whole 
state  in  the  interests  of  the  white  population.  After  eight 


REV.     F.     E.     BRUSH.  367 

years  of  hard  toil  and  sacrifice,  he  returned  to  the  Upper 
Iowa  conference,  and  is  now  (1881)  stationed  at  Maquoketa. 
The  doctor  was  honored  by  his  brethren,  at  four  different 
times,  with  a  seat  in  the  General  Conference,  and  served 
eight  years  as  a  member  of  the  book  committee;  and  last, 
but  not  least,  he  has  furnished  a  son,  Rev.  F.  E.  Brush,  A.  M., 
B.  D.,  a  member  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  now  sta- 
tioned at  Decorah,  who  bids  fair  in  ministerial  rank  to  rise 
above  even  his  worthy  predecessor.  Dr.  Brush  is  one  of 
those  genial,  large-souled  men  who  will  take  you  at  once 
into  the  warm  embraces  of  his  Christian  confidence — not  to 
betray  you,  but  to  hold  you  with  a  firm  grasp  to  the  end. 
He  has  never  taken  any  lessons  in  the  science  of  deception 
or  hypocrisy,  but  his  frank  open  countenance  is  a  standing 
index  of  the  honesty  of  his  heart.  In  truth  it  may  be  said 
he  is  a  bundle  of  energy,  and  when  he  enlists  in  any  good 
cause,  he  is  a  living  illustration  of  St.  Paul's  motto:  "  But 
this  one  thing  I  do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind 
and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,  I 
press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize."  The  doctor  is  a  large 
man,  quite  fleshy,  his  weight  about  two  hundred  and  forty 
pounds,  and  by  the  law  of  collision,  one  would  be  led  to 
suppose  that  the  flesh  would  usurp  control  of  the  spirit;  but 
instead  of  this,  it  seems  to  impart  inspiration  to  his  zeal; 
and  may  this  tireless  energy  continue  until  glory  shall 
crown  the  warrior  at  home. 


368        THE  BATTLE  FIELD  REVIEWED. 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

The  first  setting  out  in  any  laudable  enterprise  in  this  life 
is  generally  attended  with  hope  and  cheerfulness,  whatever 
may  be  the  final  result.  And  this  interest  is  heightened 
when  the  object  sought  is  of  great  importance.  We  have 
seen  the  stately  vessel  as  she  started  out  of  port,  enli- 
vened with  the  sweetest  music,  though  about  to  encounter 
the  perils  of  the  deep.  We  have  seen  the  regiments  in 
starting  out  to  the  field  of  conflict,  inspired  with  the  waving 
of  flags,  and  martial  music,  though  hundreds  of  those  brave 
men  will  find  a  soldier's  grave.  And  thus  it  is  all-important 
that  hope  and  courage  should  stand  side  by  side,  whether 
we  enter  into  victory  or  suffer  defeat.  These  two  elements 
of  our  nature  we  cannot  dispense  with;  for  whether  we 
struggle  with  hardships,  they  are  our  pillars;  or  whether  in 
successes,  they  remain  the  same  unfailing  friends.  Under 
the  inspiration  of  such  feelings  and  motives,  about  forty- 
five  years  ago  I  made  a  start  for  the  heavenly  country.  1 
was  then  without  knowledge  as  to  its  character  and  progress, 
and  without  experience  as  to  its  spiritual  rewards.  Like 
Abraham,  it  was  a  kind  of  sojourning  in  a  strange  land,  for  a 
season  "dwelling  in  tents  and  tabernacles;"  but  my  faith 
embraced  a  better  country,  and  with  hope  and  cheerfulness  1 
journeyed  on.  It  was  not  long  before  I  learned  that  the 
soldier  must  be  disciplined,  the  scholar  must  be  studious, 
and  the  Christian  must  be  firm.  That  if  worldly  enterprises 
require  patience,  hardships  and  perseverance  in  .order  to 
success,  much  more  so  in  securing  the  crown  that  never 
fades.  It  is  true  that  the  maturing  process  that  brought 
me  out  into  the  clear  sunshine  of  spiritual  enjoyment  was 
strange  to  human  reason  l>ut  thorough  in  its  work;  so  much 
so,  that  when  the  haven  was  gained,  I  was  brought  to  wonder 
that  the  way  had  been  mysterious.  From  this  personal  ex- 


"WHAT     HATH     GOD    WROUGHT!"  369 

• 

perience  I  learned  an  important  lesson — that  Christ  sends 
not  his  disciples  out  into  the  vineyard  except  they  "tarry 
first  at  Jerusalem,  to  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high." 
The  complete  spiritual  victory  which  I  secured  on  the  30th 
day  of  November,  1841,  not  only  solved  all  past  problems, 
and  pointed  out  the  path  of  duty,  but  qualified  me  for  the 
great  work  now  opening  before  me.  Passing  through  the 
deep  waters,  I  could  now  sympathise  with  the  suffering; 
through  the  different  stages  of  spiritual  progress,  I  could 
encourage  them  on  to  certain  victory — salvation,  full  and  . 
free,  "through  faith  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb."  Oh,  what 
an  hour  was  that  in  my  own  Christian  progress,  when  everv 
enemy  was  foiled,  when  every  cloud  was  gone,  and  when  I 
stood  upon  an  eminence  so  bright  and  glorious  that  all  the 
gloom  of  earth  was  beneath  me,  and  heavenly  rapture  and 
divine  joy  my  continued  portion: 

Such  was  the  state  of  my  mind  when  I  launched  out  into 
this  great  work  of  laboring  to  save  souls  for  the  kingdom  of 
Christ.  With  me,  it  was  no  myth,  no  speculative  problem, 
but  it  was  solemn  reality,  tested  in  the  crucible  of  certainty, 
and  every  converted  man  and  woman  stood  as  monuments 
to  the  truth  of  the  saving  power  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
Such  was  the  confidence  in  which  I  commenced  my  ministry 
in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  this  confidence  was  not 
misplaced.  Wherever  I  labored,  the  blessing  of  God  at- 
tended in  the  salvation  of  precious  souls,  and  many  are  the 
witnesses  still  living  in  my  old  fields  of  toil,  that  Jesus  has 
power  to  save.  After  devoting  about  four  years  to  this 
blessed  work  in  Ohio,  where  I  consecrated  myself  to  his 
service,  at  the  call  of  duty  I  left  all,  that  I  might  cultivate 
Immanuel's  lands  in  new  territory  further  west.  And 
though  home  and  friends  were  dear,  about  to  leave  behind 
me,  and  not  a  familiar  face  in  the  land  before  me,  in  the 
summer  of  1845  I  stood  upon  the  soil  of  Iowa,  in  the  city 
of  Burlington,  and  there,  with  a  faithful  few,  I  pledged  my 
fidelity  to  God  to  be  his  for  time  and  eternity.  It  was  hero 


370  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

in  this  little  village,  at  that  time,  that  I  united  my  interests 
with  a  few  other  kindred  spirits  to  endure  the  hardships, 
poverty  and  privations  of  a  new  country,  that  we  might 
labor  to  impart  to  others  the  riches  of  God's  grace,  and 
honor  the  Divine  Master  who  had  called  us  into  this  work. 
With  this  noble  band  of  workers  1  then  started  out  to  make 
new  history  in  a  new  country,  and  share  with  them  its  perils 
and  triumphs:  And  thus  we  have  traveled  on,  laboring  and 
enduring  for  the  Master,  one  falling  here  and  another  there, 
until  the  first  enlisted  soldiers  nearly  all  have  passed  from 
labor  to  reward.  Only  a  few  of  the  old  veterans  who  bowed 
with  me  at  the  altar  of  Old  Zion  in  1845  are  now  standing 
on  Zion's  walls  proclaiming  a  risen  and  exalted  Saviour; 
and  a  few  more  years  will  close  up  the  history  of  the  last  of 
those  pioneers  who  first  proclaimed  salvation  to  a  few  scat- 
tered sheep  in  the  wilderness.  Their  lonely  monuments 
are  still  to  be  seen  scattered  over  the  state  of  Iowa,  in 
silence  speaking,  but  the  fruits  of  their  toil  still  remain,  and 
will  endure  till  the  marshaled  hosts  of  earth  shall  be  sum- 
moned before  the  Judge  of  the  quick  and  the  dead.  The 
old  workmen  have  been  buried,  but  the  Master  "has  carried 
on  his  work"  by  filling  up  the  ranks  with  men  imbued 
with  the  same  spirit,  who  have  caught  the  falling  flag, 
and  even  raised  it  higher  and  waved  it  more  tri- 
umphantly than  the  fathers  who  first  unfurled  it  to  the 
breeze. 

Thus  the  little  company,  at  first,  has  been,  increasing 
from  year  to  year,  until  there  remains  not  a  settlement  in 
the  great  state  of  Iowa  that  has  not  been  honored  by  the 
gospel  message  and  inspired  with  its  songs  of  salvation. 
Standing,  as  it  were,  a  living  witness  of  its  growing  history, 
as  well  as  a  laborer  in  the  work,  how  it  cheers  my  heart  at 
this  date — though  laid  aside  from  active  labor — to  stand 
upon  an  eminence  so  exalted  and  glorious  as  that  attained 
by  the  devoted  ministers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  No  one  is  so  well  qualified  to  judge  of  the  sue- 


EXALTED     POSITION.  371 

cess  of  an  enterprise  as  the  man  who  has  stood  at  both  ends 
of  its  history.  By  this  rule,  I  may  be  considered  a  compe- 
tent judge,  in  comparing  its  present  with  its  past.  The 
little  band  that  assembled  at  Burlington  in  1845  numbered 
about  twenty,  embracing  the  territory  of  Iowa.  Now  (1881) 
we  have  four  conferences  in  the  state,  numbering  over  five 
hundred  traveling  and  more  than  that  number  of  local 
preachers.  Then  we  had  but  four  or  five  houses  of  worship, 
and  those  very  inferior;  now  we  have  two  hundred  and 
forty  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference,  the  most  of  them  orna- 
ments in  church  architecture.  We  numbered  in  member- 
ship at  that  time  about  five  thousand,  and  Sunday-school 
children  three  thousand;  now  our  membership  in  Iowa  is 
not  far  from  eighty-five  thousand  and  our  Sunday-school 
children  not  far  from  seventy-five  thousand.  At  that  date 
we  had  a  little  conference  seminary  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  for 
years  struggling  for  existence.  Now,  in  its  stead,  in  manly 
form,  stands  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  university,  an  honor  to 
that  part  of  the  state.  In  addition  to  this,  we  have  our 
noble  institution  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Cornell  college,  with 
its  admirable  president  and  corps  of  faithful  workers, 
among  the  first  institutions  of  the  West.  Then  we 
have  the  Upper  Iowa  university,  at  Fayette;  Albion 
and  Epworth  seminaries  —  all  filling  their  places  with 
honor  and  conferring  lasting  blessings  upon  our  rising 
race. 

When  I  united  with  the  Iowa  conference  it  was  truly  the 
day  of  log  (and  sometimes  sod)  cabins,  corn-bread  and 
crust-coffee;  but  now,  through  the  spirit  of  Yankee  enter- 
prise, the  cabin  has  become  a  mansion,  and  wealth  and 
luxury  have  succeeded  poverty  and  simplicity.  Preachers 
of  the  gospel  in  the  M.  E.  church  at  that  time — so  far  as 
salary  was  concerned — shared  in  the  destitution  of  the  first 
settlers.  My  own  salary  for  the  first  year  in  our  conference 
was  thirty-five  dollars.  The  second  year  it  was  advanced 
to  fifty  dollars,  and  for  seven  years'  faithful  labor  I  received 


THE     BATTLE     F  I  E  L  D     REVIEWED 

a  little  less  than  seven  hundred  dollars.  At  that  date 
T  had  but  little  use  for  the  money  precept:  "  If  riches 
increase,  set  not  your  heart  upon  them."  But  at  this  period 
of  our  history,  as  our  church  has  become  wealthy,  our  min- 
isters are  paid  a  fair  salary,  and  stand  in  this  respect  on  an 
equal  footing  with  ministers  of  other  churches.  With 
many  of  the  older  brethren,  I  have  traveled  on  from  our 
first  history  through  all  the  stages  of  its  privations,  its 
growth,  its  prosperity,  never  missing  but  one  conference 
during  all  of  its  practical  work.  I  have  lived  to  attend  the 
memorial  services  of  nearly  all  of  my  older  brethren,  and 
many  of  those  younger  than  myself,  and  though  three  years 
since  I  thought  I  had  a  transfer  to  the  conference  above,  my 
Divine  Master  reversed  the  order  and  informed  me  that  he 
had  a  work  for  me  to  do:  to  review  the  old  battle-field  once 
more,  record  its  conflicts,  and  victories  achieved  by  grace 
divine,  and  give  to  the  church  and  the  world  some  of  the 
trophies  of  redeeming  love.  And  here  I  am  to-day,  May 
26.  1881,  telling  what  great  things  the  "  Lord  hath  done 
for  me." 

And  now  it  occurs  to  me  that  my  present  position  in  con- 
nection with  the  ministers  of  the  Upper  Iowa  conference, 
in  some  respects  at  least,  is  like  that  of  Moses  standing 
upon  Mt.  Nebo,  before  his  ascent  to  heaven.  How  true  it 
is,  that  there  is  sometimes  a  point  of  interest  in  human  his- 
tory when  the  joy  experienced  outweighs  the  perils  of  a 
whole  life.  Such  was  the  experience  of  Jacob  near  Kidron's 
brook,  when  the  prisoner  was  changed  to  a  prince.  Such 
was  the  reward  of  Joseph,  when  exalted  to  become  the 
ruler  of  the  land  of  Egypt.  Such  was  the  joy  of  Columbus 
when  first  his  eye  discovered  a  new  continent;  and  such  was 
the  rapture  of  Moses  upon  Mt.  Nebo,  as  he  reviews  the 
past,  surveys  the  earthly  Canaan,  and  awaits  his  ascension 
to  heaven.  How  vividly  portrayed  by  a  modern  writer. 
Standing  there  in  his  elevated  position,  having  a 
glimpse  of  the  city  of  Jericho,  the  land  of  Naphthali, 


BATTLE  FOUGHT CROWN  OBTAINED.   373 

' 

Cai-mel's  Mount,  and  Hermon's  hills  of  green,  as  well 
as  the  giant  form  of  "  Lebanon  on  high,"  the  poet 
continues: 

"  Such  was  the  land  which  from  that  sacred  height 
The  prophet  viewed;  but  lo!  what  sudden  light 
Bursts  from  yon  cloud  just  hovering  o'er  his  head ! 
Far  down  the  mount  its  glorious  beams  were  shed — 
It  was  the  angel  come  to  bear  away 
///*  weary  spirit  to  the  realms  of  day."" 

With  one  turn  of  his  person  he  could  look  back  to  the 
Egypt  from  whence  he  came;  the  Red  Sea  of  deliverance 
from  his  enemies;  view  the  map  of  his  travels  and  expe- 
riences for  forty  years  in  the  wilderness;  and  adore  the 
divine  presence  and  guidance  all  the  way  through;  and  now 
he  is  about  to  wave  a  final  farewell  to  earth's  conflicts  and 
take  his  seat  with  God's  princes  in  the  Canaan  above. 
Would  not  such  a  position  as  this,  awaiting  his  transition 
to  heaven,  more  than  compensate  him  for  the  trials  of  the 
wilderness  for  forty  years? 

Moses  was  not  the  last  one  of  God's  servants  who  after 
the  close  of  life's  labors  has  stood  in  an  elevated  position, 
"viewed  the v landscape  o'er,'*  witnessed  the  "sudden  light 
from  the  bursting  cloud,"  and  awaited  the  angel  visit  to 
bear  his  soul  away.  Nay,  verily.  Such  has  been  the  privi- 
lege of  many  a  faithful  minister,  after  the  wilderness  had 
been  passed,  the  warfare  ended  and  the  victory  secured,  to 
occupy  an  eminence  as  honorable,  and  enjoy  a  bliss  as  sub- 
lime, as  he  who  "  chose  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season."  If  my  readers  will  allow  me  to  mark  some  points 
of  resemblance,  without  the  charge  of  egotism,  touching 
my  own  relation  to  the  church,  and  especially  its  ministry, 
it  may  assist  in  its  application.  Forty  years  had  passed 
before  commencing  this  personal  history,  since  I  began  the 
Master's  work  in  leading  on  the  hosts  to  heaven.  An  ordeal 
of  severe  discipline  was  necessary  to  qualify  me  to  be  con- 


374  THE     BATTLE     FIELD     REVIEWED. 

vinced  of  my  duty,  and  then  to  enter  upon  it  successfully. 
My  way  has  been  marked  by  God's  pillar  of  a  cloud  by 
day  and  fire  by  night,  and  especially  his  presence  has  been 
with  me  to  impart  victory  in  every  trying  hour,  and  a  heart 
to  magnify  his  grace  in  every  soul  saved.  And  a  Caleb  and 
Joshua  are  about  all  that  are  left  of  my  brother  ministers* 
(in  Upper  Iowa)  who  started  with  me  to  the  heavenly 
Canaan.  And  shall  I  say  too  much,  when  I  add  that  the 
joy  and  satisfaction  now  felt  in  view  of  past  successes, 
present  honors  and  future  glories,  repay  me  well  for  all 
trials  endured. 

The  question  has  often  been  presented  by  friends  ac- 
quainted with  my  past  history,  "  If  you  were  permitted  to 
repeat  your  life,  with  your  present  knowledge  of  all  your 
past  experiences,  would  you  choose  a  new  path  or  adhere 
to  the  same  history?"  My  answers  have  been  prompt  and 
without  the  least  hesitation:  "  Had  I  my  life  to  live  over 
again,  the  only  change  which  I  could  wish  to  make,  would 
be  to  enlist  in  the  service  of  Christ  earlier,  and  labor  to 
secure  greater  success  in  winning  souls  for  heaven."  And 
as  for  privations,  exposures,  and  trying  experiences — which 
are  often  numbered  among  those  to  be  dreaded, — these  are 
the  minister's  diamonds  which  will  cause  his  crown  to 
shine  when  the  rewards  of  ease  and  luxury  are  forgotten. 
The  rich  jewels  gathered  from  year  to  year  in  my  pioneer 
history,  are  so  precious,  that  I  have  laid  them  carefully 
aside;  yea,  of  such  value,  that  gold  cannot  buy;  and  I  doubt 
not  in  the  awards  of  our  heavenly  inheritance  these  offer- 
ings of  personal  suffering  and  endurance  for  "Chris?* 
sake"  will  secure  the  highest  honor  and  the  greatest  bliss. 

For  forty-one  years,  as  my  family  relations  have  remained 
unchanged,  for  a  home  I  have  been  dependent  mainly  on 
others;  yet  I  have  found  many  a  pleasant  Bethany,  and 
thousands  of  willing  hands  and  warm  hearts  to  assist  and 
cheer  me  on  my  way;  and  now  as  the  autumn  approaches 

*  I  am  now  the  onlv  one  remaining  in  the  Upper  Iowa  conference. 


"AT     THE     FOOT     OF     THE     CROSS."  375 

and  the  green  leaves  begin  to  fade,  I  realize  more  than 
ever,  that  I  shall  never  die;  but  closing  my  eyes  to  the 
earthly,  I  shall  open  them  to  gaxe  upon  scenes  more  trans- 
porting and  faces  more  heavenly  and  divine.  It  might  be 
well  to  say  at  this  point,  that  the  victory  gained  and  bliss 
secured  in  1841  have  been  continued  and  enlarged  down 
to  the  present  hour,  and  during  the  last  winter  I  seemed  to 
be  standing-  upon  the  very  borders  of  the  heavenly  land. 

And  now  there  remains  with  me  one  ambition^  I  appre- 
hend of  a  higher  grade  and  purer  worth  than  any  of  its 
antecedents:  that  the  closing  up  of  my  earthly  history  may 
have  such  a  halo  of  glory  attending  it,  that  it  may  reflect 
a  brightness  over  the  past  and  shed  its  glory  into  the  future. 
I  have  stood  with  these  feet  at  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains as  the  descending  sun  left  his  golden  tinge  upon  every 
tree  on  the  mountain-side;  and  that  towering  cliff  seemed  to 
reflect  back  its  grandeur  to  every  human  eye  and  to  every 
object  in  nature.  Such  a  sight  as  this  was  both  beautiful 
and  grand.  But  with  these  feet  I  now  stand  upon  an  emi- 
nence more  imposing  and  sublime.  Yea,  at  the  foot  of  the 
Cross  of  Christ,  whose  glory  gilds  the  earth  and  brightens 
heaven;  and  as  I  am  soon  to  pass  away  from  earth's  labors 
and  conflicts,  my  last  prayer  shall  be  that  this  light  may 
illumine  the  passage  from  a  world  of  sin  to  a  heaven  of 
blessedness,  where  the  "Lord  himself  shall  be  our  everlast- 
ing light  and  the  days  of  our  mourning  shall  be  ended." 


